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My husband has severe melancholic depression and I’m overwhelmed with the choices we have to make

AscotContributor05 Dec 2019, 9:17 pm AEDT

My husband has severe melancholic depression and I’m overwhelmed with the choices we have to make

My bestie was admitted to a private menatal health facility eight weeks ago suffering from severe depression brought about by the year from hell. This beautiful man is usually well, healthy and engaged, but his depression started in January and we didn’t treat it quickly enough. On entry to the hospital they filled him with medications. including an antidepressant and then added another one as the first was not working alone. They also gave him another drug for anxiety, yet another one for back pain as well as medication for sleep.

Bestie was discharged last Friday even though I felt he wasn’t ready, but he was so keen to be free of the hospital environment. He lasted only three days at home before he had to be readmitted. He had been so excited to get out of the institution and then when he got home of course it just wasn’t right and he plummeted quickly.

On re-admission I have sought a second opinion from a psychiatrist which was given yesterday. I just thought they could change his meds to a different of medication but all they keep pushing is ECT. Bestie and I were completely against it the moment we got in there. We saw it as the last resort. Another huge scary drug added into his current concoction is the next option, and the last recommention is changing meds, which they have said will take time and they have a responsiblility to clear up beds for new patients needing help.

He’s so very unwell and a shell of himself at the moment with no emotion or engagement. I don’t recognise him and it’s breaking my heart.

How do I make this decision about what is right for my darling man. I’ve had two psychiatrists both tell me ECT is best as we are in such a bad way. But they were saying that when he first got in there too ...

Are my fears about ECT unfounded? I don’t know what to do ...

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In response to: My husband has severe melancholic depression and I’m overwhelmed with the choices we have to make

Unknown userMember24 Dec 2019, 6:49 pm AEDT

Re: My husband has severe melancholic depression and I’m overwhelmed with the choices we have to make

@Ascot Mr D's diagnosis presently is bipolar ii but many other diagnoses were tendered including other chronic mental health conditions. Things started to go pear shaped 17 years ago with an acute period of 3-4 years considered stable the last 3 1/2 years. We have been married for over 35 years.

In response to: My husband has severe melancholic depression and I’m overwhelmed with the choices we have to make

Annemarie22Contributor19 Oct 2023, 2:44 am AEDT

Re: My husband has severe melancholic depression and I’m overwhelmed with the choices we have to make

Sorry to hear about your Bestie (husband) you commented about it started the depression brought on "by the year of hell". sometimes Psychiatrists meaning well over medicate sadly in these types of conditions however, in can in turn create further problems. It would be great if you could get a health professional to "go back to the time it started" in order for your bestie to discuss in full his feelings, then perhaps a plan can be put in place for him to follow, along with suitable medication for stabilising the condition but not numbing feelings, etc. ECT I cannot comment on it. Only if your bestie agrees with this then perhaps if not there other other options. all the best.

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