[hij3469]

My wife "Kay" and I have been married 21 years and she has dealt with depression for 18 of the 21 years. She has had meds prescribed by a family Dr. in the past and visited with a counselor. I am new to the forum and this site and am looking for advice and help. Kay is currently in a fairly dark place and is struggling. I have suggested she go see a psychologist who can counsel and prescribe meds in the hope that someone in the mental health field will be able to give her more accurate help. This is the first time I have sought support for myself as I support her so I am open to doing whatever I can for me any my wife and our 3 children. I am a school teacher so I am not sure how we will pay for this help, but I appreciate any and all advice.

[kaliope]

she can see an mft, lcsw, or phd for the depression. sometimes you can find interns who will do it for free or a cheaper rate. if there is a college close by then they will have clinics at a reduced rate or perhaps you have a state run clinic that has a sliding scale. call around and see if anybody offers reduced fee. your family doc is fine if he is willing to prescribe antidepressants. no need to pay an expensive psychiatrist to do the same thing if the therapist is sure it is depression. all psychiatrist typically do is rx meds. they dont counsle. my best advice is dont ever say "try this"....it doesnt come across as very supportive to me. here is a poem that really triggered me when i found it...it is only part of the poem.

People assume you aren’t sick
unless they see the sickness on your skin
like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting.

My heart is a prison of Have you tried?s
Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating better?
Have you tried not being sad, not being sick?
Have you tried being more like me?
Have you tried shutting up?

Yes, I have tried. Yes, I am still trying,
and yes, I am still sick.

the key is supporting and listening, even it it sounds ridiculous.......

A PCP can treat with antidepressants but if she needs someone to talk with, I know there are clinics that have sliding scale fees. I'm very sorry for what you and your family are going through. Depression can affect the whole house sometimes.