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Monday, August 18, 2008 NikkiC asks

Q: Does anyone know of a Support Group for depression in the Bucks County, Pennsylvania area?

This is for my husband.  He is absolutely falling apart from depression.  As I write this, he is crying.  He said he gets no joy in anything, feels like if it wasn't for me and our kids, he would have taken his own life by now.  He just wants to get out of pain.  I have tried to convince him to check himself into a hospital but he refuses due to his job, responbilities, etc.  He has been on medication after medication over the last 15 years and nothing seems to help.  I suggested a support group in our area and he seems good with that.  Does anyone know of anywhere in the Bucks County, Pennsylvania area for a support group??  Thank you!! 

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Answers (3)
8/22/08 4:10pm

No, but its admirable that you are looking.  Look in phone book or online here..for NAMI  National Alliance for Mental Illness...follow links and you probably will be directed to a local NAMI affiliate.   If there is not one isn BUcks county, there is a very active one, I understand in Montgomery county, there is one in Berks County, and a very active Main Line NAMI.   THEY do have support groups.   BUT....he may need more and if he is feeling suicidal, you need to maybe call 911 or drive him to the emergency room.   If he can make it, call a reputable psychiatrist (if he isn't already seeing one) and tell the truth about how bad it is.  If he has a good doc already, I think he/she will either get him in to the office immediately to assess need for hospitalization (which can really help even if for just a few days....its ok to go...even if he is reluctant...its ok and more, its necessary for his pain.)  You are a good advocate.   Don't let the hospital emergency room, if thats where you end up....treat this any different than they would another emergency.   Sometimes you have to answer the questions a bout suicidal with "yes, a plan"....you will figure this out.. but PLAN seems to be key work in admission, whether in fact a plan has beed made.   I hope your husband gets the help  he needs.  I just realized I only could see the first three lines...so this may all be things you already know. 

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8/22/08 4:19pm
ok, now that I read the whole thing. . . call a lady named Ruth Deming...she know so much about all of this and runs a support group in Abington....if this group is not right, she is the kind of person who will walk you through the steps of what to do right now. SOmeone from main line nami directed me to her and she even called back to follow up, to see how things worked out. Ask her if she knows a closer good group if you need one. But, if he is that sick right now, call her, but a support group is only part of it, as you know. I will say this...from a family member's experience: ECT was the answer. Unbelievable. very bad history, so sorry suffering went on for so long. If he is out of immediate danger and you have the time, look for Kitty Dukakis' book called "Shock". ( I saw her speak and she advocated for the use of ect and against the things that people are afraid of, saying it saved her life and is UNDERUSED. ) My mother's life was restored by this.....and many years later, when very sick relapse happened, she refused meds and was past rational thought, but...she remembered that. She asked for ECT, saying, I remember, that was the thing that worked for me. And it did again. God Bless your husband. AnD YOU. Maybe until he gets to that support group, connecting with a good one on here or on www.dbsalliance.org (look below on webpage)...will connect him with a "helpline" people who will encourage him to hang on. I think it has helped many to do this while excellent local professional help. Reply
8/22/08 4:29pm

please pardon all those typos and missed words, etc.   I type so fast in a hurry because you are both suffering terribly....I have been the family member in your shoes.   

 

A family member of mine was given Risperdal recently for depression.  It is usually used as an antipsychotic, but apparently a very large study on its use for severe and persistent depression has been completed, with good results.   My family member experienced good results, rather quickly, for depression...with this medicine.  It has its downside, but I read somewhere (I think) that if person is admitted to er, sometimes they will use this ( I guess if psychotic, but you could be the educated person who asks the doc about it at least) to get almost immediate relief  ....then not necessarily use it for long, but stabilize (put the person out of their pain) until plans are made for next move.  If the er doc doesn't know about the research...or current doc doesn't...ask, if he doesn't go to er.   I think they treat the really bad psychotic episodes with this med injection....to quickly settle things down... just a thought.   Good luck.  My family member was so relieved (though never psychotic, thankfully) from the bad feelings (especially any aggressive ones), that he pleaded for me to try it..  I have been on some medications for more mild depression/anxiety - possibly bp, but I don't like to label.   I think I'm doing ok, but his answer is you just don't know you have been feeling bad for so long.  I finally asked for smallest dose to try.  Doc said smallest dose is the "granny" dose....so I said...I'll take that.   But haven't taken it yet.  I'm kind of anxious to try it....I also had much success with Lamictal.  MUCH.

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By NikkiC— Last Modified: 12/24/10, First Published: 08/18/08