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Managing Lifelong Mental Health as a Senior

Posted by georgette12 @georgette12, Jan 13, 2017

I have just started using this site so this is my first message.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.

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johnjames | @johnjames | Apr 1, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

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Colleen, I have been down for a few weeks- my life Gluteus torn away from the Bone and other main body- which really hurt 24/7- sorry don't mean to whim, I know I haven't been very active. The constant pain and added my Spine and Back -I'm wondering what's next. The doctor think it could agent orange which is destroying the inside of my Gluteus. I'm waiting to find out from an expert when they call me. My energy level has dropped to about 30%. I really want to thank Colleen for your checking on us and your continued Kindness, knowing you have health issue yourself. I pray for you and your staff and all the help from everyone who trying to help with answers. All of you are wonderful people and God is using you in our(My) life. JJAMES

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johnjames | @johnjames | Apr 1, 2017
In reply to @brit "May you fell OUR LORDS arms around you and giving you comfort. Be still and wait...." + (show)
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May you fell OUR LORDS arms around you and giving you comfort. Be still and wait. Love Patti

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Boy Patti- I want to thank you for what you said- I believe it affects all of us, I know it does me and I just wanted you to know how greatfull I'm of you. JJAMES

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Apr 1, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

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@johnjames

I'm sorry that yet another issue has been added to your list. I'll be praying for you. Thank you for your input here. You're an encouragement to me.

Jim

REPLY
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johnjames | @johnjames | Apr 2, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

Jump to this post

Thanks Jim- I very much appreciate your support and prayers, please I don't take it for granted. Question: How do you sleep at night, I can't very well- it takes me hours to finally go to sleep- I know PTSD is part of the problems. but I guess why so many hours and to just can't sleep. Thanks for listening and God Bless My friend. - How are you doing these days and what is the main health I can pray about for you. JJAMES>

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Gail Benson Ledesma , Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Apr 2, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

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@johnjames I'm sorry to hear of the further problems with your gluteus muscle. I can only imagine the level of your pain. Since you mentioned Agent Orange, I assume you had your initial injury in Vietnam and you're a veteran. I deeply regret that your service resulted in ongoing pain and problems in your life. I pray for peace and comfort in your life. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. Gail B

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Apr 2, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

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I value every prayer that is offered to God on my behalf. I sleep quite well, for the most part. Taking several meds that are drowsying helps, I'm sure, as does doing my Bible reading, praying, and having our couples devotional at bedtime. A routine is good. I have sleep apnea, and use a CPAP machine faithfully. The problem I have is sleeping too much. I've been sleeping 10-12 hours every day. 8 or 9 is what I need to shoot for, but when I wake up, it's a struggle to drag myself out of bed.

Right now, beside the neuropathy pain, depression and suicidal ideation, I've started seeing blood in my stool, which could be a rerun of the peptic ulcers I had several years ago. It's probably caused by the pain medications I take. I just started seeing a therapist again a few weeks ago, and every time I start with a new one, it's like starting all over again, going back to the trauma, hurts, etc.

My wife is flying back home on Tuesday, after spending a month with our daughter, who just had her first baby, Kaitlyn Rose. I'm glad she could go, but being alone for a month is a little risky. I've kept busy, doing maintenance projects on the house. I won't make it through the whole list, I'm afraid. We've never been apart for this long in our 45 years of marriage.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Jim

REPLY
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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 2, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

Jump to this post

@jimhd You definitely have my thoughts and prayers, Jim. You have done well being apart from your wife for an extended period of time. I sense a great deal of strength in you in spite of the struggles you have experienced! Praying that your wife will have a good flight home. Teresa

REPLY
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 2, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

Jump to this post

@johnjames Thanks for the update. I am so sorry to hear of this new problem. Chronic pain is such a difficult problem to deal with. Be assured of my concern and prayers for you. You have exhibited great courage, bravery and faith in your life and I admire those qualities. Best wishes to both you and your wife. Teresa

REPLY
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Gail Benson Ledesma , Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Apr 2, 2017
In reply to @georgette12 "Hello gailb. And of course a hello to everybody on the forum who i have missed..." + (show)
Profile picture for georgette12 @georgette12

Hello gailb. And of course a hello to everybody on the forum who i have missed for two weeks. I think my last post was about my not saving my son from suicide. And your kind response was/is appreciated . i did post a note on the "create a discussion" section today because i didn't know where to post that i'm back.
To galib...thank u for sharing your story about your son. And at the time he was telling you this, i remember that it was not at all an easy thing...to be gay...much less admit it. So you actually DID save your son's life! You did something a lot of parents could not do. You accepted him just the way he was/is. I have friends...and yeah they are still friends i guess...who will not support their son being gay. They keep it a secret and it hurts him. I am his adopted aunt. I made it a point to give him my personal support . his mother is a serious religious person and he is now certain he is "going to hell" .... His words...not mine.
There is something not right here. I don't want to offend anyone reading this...but that is another discussion anyway.

Gailb...it does occur to me that your son might want a chance to save YOUR life. It might be good to see how he feels about your plans for the future.
I will post this before it gets too long. But you sound like such a loving and caring person...i imagine your son would be just like you!

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He is a very loving and kind person, and is far more active in helping others than I have been. He knows of my plans and doesn't exactly approve, but we'll talk more long before that happens hopefully. I appreciate your feedback @georgette12. It took me awhile to find these pages. For some reason the posts get divided into different groups as far as I can tell.

I think religious beliefs have ruined many a family's opportunities to learn from a LBGTQ child and to grow closer as a result. There are so many negative things in the old testament about how God treated people (even asking a father to sacrifice his daughter) that I have no use for it. Then the new testament was equally cruel in how people were told to treat each other. I just have no belief in religious teachings. So, it was relatively easy for me to understand when I realized that my son was gay that it was something I needed to learn more about. Even then, I was brought up in Missouri and was very religious in my youth, so I had all the prejudices of the church in me somewhere. I had to let go of all the old teachings, and accept new learning and information about being gay. I took a class at UC Berkeley and joined a PFLAG (Parents for Lesbian and Gays) group, where I learned first hand the nature of families when they discover their child, or children are gay or ledbian. I'm sure the group has expanded to include transgender people too now. I hope you can make a difference in your adopted nephew's life. They grow so desparate for acceptance that they sometimes take drastic measures. Thanks again @georgette12. GailB

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johnjames | @johnjames | Apr 3, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Great topic to start, Georgette. You wrote: "discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Great topic to start, Georgette.
You wrote:
"discussing managing mental health issues as a senior, after a lifelong challenge with this disease. This issue can be further complicated as we age because many people do have memory loss and other symptoms of aging, and it is very difficult to tell the difference between life-long anxiety or depression and other mental health issues.......and age-related symptoms or conditions. Am i feeling depressed because i cannot do the things i used to do, or am i depressed because i do not have chronic depression under control?"

I'm tagging @overwhelmed @johnjames @jimhd @amberpep and @lesbatts on this discussion as I believe they will value insights or reflections to offer.

Jump to this post

gailb/ Thank you for caring with such kind email, Yes I'm an old veteran, Served over 44 years in the Army- twice in Viet Nam, and is where I ( as many more) were sprayed with agent orange - at times, every day for a week or weeks. Hard to change uniforms in the jungle and our missions was usually 10 -17 days. But, I would say over ( 85 %loved the Army and would go back again if needed) I was Diagnosed with agent orange Parkinson's 3 years now. and in my tissue and possible internal areas I'm waiting to hear from the VA Experts on Agent Orange. MY wife was a combat /OR RN in Viet Nam and she saw far more than nurses here in 20 years. She is a great nurse and I thank God for her, Thank you again for your prayers and kindness, JJAMES.

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