Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DH Depression, Refusing Help

2 replies

InDespair2014 · 20/09/2014 07:14

In despair! Have moved overseas for DH's new job, but his team is very dysfunctional/unsupportive and he now has depression. Lies in bed half the week and now talks daily about suicide. Recent suicide in his family, so he is at high risk for seeing this through.

Crisis recently when I had to be away for a few days. He picked up a stranger in a bar and "under a lot of pressure fron her" brought her back to our house ("but nothing happened"). He is gutted and it's completely out of character for him. I haven't asked for more details as it would only hurt both of us, but I expect he had gone out to drown his sorrows and was very drunk. 6 months ago I would have left him for this, but happy to give him a chance this time as he is clearly not himself at the moment.

Managed to get him to a doctor finally after the crisis, who referred him for counselling with a very experienced psychologist. However, he's now cancelled his first appointment as "there's too much going on in my mind" and "I don't want to talk to her about my bereavement as it upsets me too much". (A sudden bereavement 20 years ago, that he has never come to terms with, not the recent one.)

Any suggestions? Do I stick it out here with our toddler waiting day after day to see if he decides to see the counsellor after all, or do I use the "AlAnon" approach and come back to blighty, leaving him to fall in a downwards spiral until he reaches rock bottom and sees for himself that only he can take responsibility for his emotions and illness, even though there is a real risk that he would take his own life.

He's definitely not physically addicted to alcohol, but has used alcohol and the local pubs throughout his adult life to hide from facing up to work stresses and his bereavement.

Has anyone else been in this position? What did you do?

OP posts:
LEMmingaround · 20/09/2014 07:28

He's scared. Counselling is very daunting and lots of people are reticent. Has he been offered any medication at all? This would take the edge off any anxiety and might make him feel more positive about the counselling.

It sounds like he needs to tackle his work situation. If he is not being supported he needs to report this as it wont just be him and he shouldn't have to just carry on regardless.

As for whether you wait around for him to get help? Only you can decide. Depression is an illness and it changes peoples perception and as such, can make them less likely to reach out for help. However living with someone with depression is beyond hard and you have a small child to care for. I would be making it very clear that he needs to make changes or yoy can't stay.

I suffer from anxiety and depression and actually didn't find counselling that helpful. I did and do find that medication helps me.

Maybe that would work better for him?

InDespair2014 · 20/09/2014 10:18

Thanks, LEMming. It's good to hear from someone who has suffered themselves, although I'm very sorry you have. My best friend has too and I've seen enough over the years to realise I don't begin to know what it feels like. In fact, I think that's why I've stayed so long when others would have pulled the plug months ago.

His GP discussed medication last week, but DH and the GP were both keen to try counselling first and the psychologist he recommended is extremely experienced. At least he did finally go to see the GP last week after all these months, and admitted publicly to having depression and suicidal thoughts, which must be extremely daunting.

He has raised the issues at work and has the backing of his boss's seniors, but the team is spread out across different countries, so is hard to manage, and the issues are largely caused by office politics and personality clashes, which I expect he contributes to as he has a very bullish attitude.

Anyone else been through this and come out the other side?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page