@crabby55

May 19 from conniey
There are effective treatments for depression. Since your husband seems to have severe (clinical) depression, he should definitely be seeing a well trained psychiatrist. Often patients with depression get prescriptions for psychotropic meds from a primary care provider, including anti-depressants. A good psychiatrist is much better qualified to prescribe these medications, and to help your husband determine effective doses. Often patients are helped by a combination of different medications. Again, an experienced psychiatrist will have much more expertise in exploring combinations of different medications, in order to help your husband to feel better, than a primary care provider. Of course, it will be important that he take the medication as prescribed, and he should be monitored by the psychiatrist on a regular basis. Your husband can also discuss any side effects of the medications with his treating psychiatrist. If he will sign a release, then you can also talk to his psychiatrist about his care, and ask the psychiatrist questions about your husband's treatment. You can also give the psychiatrist valuable information about what you have observed with regard to your husband's mood, and his struggles.

A good psychotherapist, seen on a regular basis, should be consulted for ongoing therapy. You might have to let your husband "shop around" for a therapist he feels comfortable with, and one who can provide helpful and effective therapy. Of course, he will probably want to look for a therapist who is covered by his health insurance.

Regular exercise is usually helpful to people suffering from depression. It takes persistence and determination for a depressed person to get plenty of exercise, even when he/she does not feel motivated to get exercise. The patient often has to push himself/herself to get exercise often, and for long enough periods of time. You might be able to start by going on walks outside with him, in order to encourage him to get exercise. That is an area where your participation and encouragement could be helpful.

For yourself, you might want to look into what is offered in your area by the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Disorder Support Alliance -- http://www.dbsalliance.org) and by NAMI -- The National Alliance for Mental Illness. The DBSA has support groups, for patients, and also for the family members and loved ones of patients, all over the country.

NAMI is also a nationwide organization, with many support groups. NAMI (www.nami.org) also offers a 12 week course titled "From Family to Family", which is for the family members of those with major mental illnesses, to help them learn about the illness, and also to help them learn coping skills. You can check the web site to find out when the next Family to Family course will begin in your area, and sign up to enroll. As far as I know, there is no charge for this 12-week course.

Both NAMI and the DBSA offer support groups for patients. These groups are usually facilitated by a trained volunteer. It might be helpful to your husband to join such a support group, and attend on a regular basis. He could "shop around" by attending different support groups in your area, before deciding which one or ones he would like to join and attend on a regular basis. Tha patients in these support groups often help and support each other. Sometimes, lasting friendships are developed in a support group.