@mandrake70 I understand both the stigma and lack of understanding of depression and other illnesses of the mind. Education is certainly needed. I began to recognize the symptoms of depression in '04, but I realize now that it was there long before that. By '06, I was far enough down in a deep, dark hole that I was attempting suicide. I admitted myself to a nice facility in November of '05, where people who have survived suicide attempts can be in a safe place and get help.

When someone says they are thinking about suicide, it has to be taken seriously, and they need to have someone to talk to who will listen and not minimize the suicidal thoughts.

When our daughter was in high school she told me about her own depression and I think it helped her to know that I definitely understood. I'm glad that our daughter and son always have talked openly with my wife and me. I believe that was really important. Your daughter is blessed to have you in her corner.

It took five years of therapy and medications for me not to have persistent thoughts of suicide, and become more or less stable. I'm afraid that I wasn't much of a husband during that time, and my wife has told me that she thought I should be over it by now. She does understand that mental ill health is just as much an illness as cancer or a broken bone. I think she's just tired of being the wife of a depressed man.

Has your wife talked about depression with a mental health professional? It would probably be helpful to all of you if your family had some education. It might be a good idea for you and your wife and daughter spoke with a counselor together. It was helpful for me and my family.

As for being strong for your daughter - perhaps family counseling would lighten your load. We fathers would do anything for our kids. One important way we can care for them is to model self care. The Bible tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I think we could reword that to read love yourself as you love your neighbor.

One other thing is that the most effective treatment for depression is the combination of therapy and medications. For many of us, antidepressants will be needed for long term maintenance.

Take care of yourself. Let your daughter know how much you love her, and that you're in this together.

Jim

Where can I try Ketamine treatments in Iowa that are paid for by Medicare? I've tried everything also. The meds have helped but I also have severe OCD. Maria.