[Secretum]

Hello lovely people,

My brother really hasn't been feeling well lately. He deals with depression, OCD, and ADD, and he has felt just awful the past week. I personally don't think his pdoc knows what he is doing...rx'd him Xanax (he is also really anxious right now, so it makes sense...but I don't know if he should be on a benzo). I don't know why the pdoc didn't raise his lamictal; my little brother is only on 75 mg! and that seems like something that might obviously help. But then again, I haven't been to med school, so what do I know...

Anyway, I want to know what I can do to comfort him and give him hope. I've been hugging him and reminding him how much I love him, but I want to do more. I really wish I could take this away from him. I know first hand that depression sucks.

Is there anything you wish your relatives did or said when Churchill's black dog was nipping at your heels? Thanks!

[gayleggg]

It sounds like you are doing the most important things. Hugs and loving, encouraging comments are about all I wish for, except also for some peace a quiet because my mind is so busy that I can't concentrate on conversations.

Your brother is very lucky.

[Sonorotto]

Hi Secretum,
Having someone that listens when he talks is a biggie and you are doing that already. What a great Brother! Part of deLing with bipolar is accepting that you will always have it. Accepting that you need medications and a good pdoc can be overwhelming. But thousands of people deal with it successfully every hour of the day. There are going to be bad times, we are only human. Is there a bipolar support group in your area? Didnt know there was any such thing but sure enough there is a group less than a 5 minute walk from where we live. Look into that. Sometimes meeting others going thru the same struggle makes it easier to deal with. He is lucky to have you. Since your brother has several conditions and is on various meds check out SSRI's via google. Especially if you feel his doc may not know what he is doing. His doc could be doing more harm than good. Many people, myselves included, have blind faith that our doc is all-knowing....and thats not always the case. So check that out. And find some distractions for the both of you. Sounds like you may be bipolar as well....?
Good luck to the both of you. Take care, peace.

[LettinG0]

Your brother is lucky to have you! I think you are doing all the right things. I tend to "push" people away but will respond if approached. . . So keeping contact without 'forcing' is good!

[loophole]

Originally Posted by Secretum

Is there anything you wish your relatives did or said when Churchill's black dog was nipping at your heels? Thanks!

I don't know if this helps you at all but since you asked ..

I honestly wish that I could walk around the house.. get food. sleep when I want too.. without anyone talking to me.. no questions. no comments... no hugs (hugs just piss me off when I'm not in a good place... I don't want anyone's pitty).. just to sit and be inside myself without feeling like I'm being judged.

[Secretum]

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

I'm going to come with him to his next pdoc appt and ask the doctor some questions. Has anyone ever heard of someone being on just 75 mg of lamictal?! I'm on 200 mg, and I thought that was a low dose...I'm just confused. This doctor really doesn't seem to know what he is doing. He's awful at returning patients' phone calls too.

[Cocosurviving]

Hello there. Yes I'm on 400 mg of Lamictal. I started out on a low dose for my depression. Then my pdoc wanted me to reach 200 mg. I had a big changing event so my mg was increased. The event turned into an mixed episode which led to me being hospitalized. As far as the support groups they helped me. There not like AA/NA meetings. There not plentiful around each city. Remember we're talking abt mental illness which is taboo. With that said there are groups just not around each corner. It not bother me that they where not in walking distance bc I have a car. If he doesn't it would be really supportive to go with him and give him a ride.
I think ur topic is awesome and I wish my family would ask the question

Sent from iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lonlin3zz]

I just hope my older brother doesn't ****ing thinks what solutions worked for him means that it should work for me as well.

Fancy, asking me to get out of the house to "breathe fresh air", " explore the world ", as if he's trying to say I don't have a life by playing my games alone in my own space.

********, he thinks by wasting his saliva to get me out of the house would be helping me, when actually it pissed me off when I'm trying to have some quiet time alone during my downswings.

Finally I raged, slam shut the laptop. He took me out of the house, but thanks to his stupidity, he doesn't know I slammed shut my laptop without shutting down, so he decided switch off the main power, which resulted in a cold shutdown ( I don't plug my battery into my laptop ). When I came back after borrowing some self-help books from a library, I was so ****ing enraged that I have to restart my laptop thanks to him.

[Lonlin3zz]

Seeing as how your brother is dealing with this right now, reminds me of how people are trying to help but just can't.

I'm really close to tearing. I respect you for putting an effort to help, like how my brother tries his best to assist me but ended I still raged.

[pinkviolet]

Well, since I talked about the sexual abuse from my father to both sides of the family I have no family except a brother in Abbotsford BC. My mother passed away when I was 23 years old and I have stayed away from the father as I think the last time I could have killed him..

So I have 7 friends that don't judge me and tell me to take care of myself and that I am a loving, caring person. Who cares if I am retired because of this illness and continue painting your beautiful abstract paintings.

For these friends I am so grateful but family has rejected me.

So count your Lucky stars that you can be there for your brother, just being in his presence is a blessing.

[A Red Panda]

How is his eating? My eating habits go to s*** when I'm in a depression. The best way to get proper nutrition in to me is honestly if someone else makes it. I'll eat out of politeness.

Other than that... I just wish they wouldn't ask questions but just offer an ear when I want one.

I also find that friends imposing themselves on me for 1:1 contact is helpful. I won't initiate and will usually bail on things if I can, but 1:1 is the easiest to handle and if they just show up or something, well, the social interaction is good for me even if I don't want it!

[czarina1984]

As far as Lamictal, I was on 50mg for several years and the difference was noticeable.

When I'm down I wish someone would care enough to notice and ask and want to hear the answer. But only to check in occasionally not bug me about it.

[Crazy Hitch]

I would say

Please learn the symptoms of depression, because sometimes when you think that I have something against you, I don't.