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Sunday, July 04, 2010 GreenIdBoy asks

Q: Spouse with depression

My wife and I has been together for 6 years now. I am 27 and she is 25. We have been married 2 years. She had my daughter and every since then she says that she is suffering from postpone deppresion. It got to the point where she brought up things that I have done to her over 3 years ago and just sit and get depressed about it. The we got married and then it got worst, I thought it would have gotten better, She use to tell me the reason she is depressed is because we wasnt married. We got married and then she got worst, she started getting migranes and having head aches. And every medicine that they proscribed for her she said it wasnt helping, so the prescriptions got harder and harder. And i would notice that everytime she would get depressed, we would get into it, she would say she has a headache. Pop some pills and go to bed. Everytime i told her something she didnt want to hear, she would say she is sick or has a headache and go to bed. She would blame me for everything, and she still does. And I get tired of being blamed for everything. We had another baby 7 weeks ago. My wife had a life changing experience. And she almost died and had to had emergency DNC surgery and blood transfusion. She says that she still hurts, did i mention that she takes Ambien also. She is sleep when i see her, but she swears she is not sleeping, Im not sure if she wants more sleep. But when we are at home she sites there like its the last place on earth she wants to be. My daughter asks me whats wrong with mom. And i dont have no exuse on what to tell her,, she is 3 years old and is very smart. She has gotten so bad to where the other night she was screaming she wants to kill herself. And she blames it all on me. she says the reason she wants to kill herself is becuase i dont love her. And now she wants to leave me. Im trying to be the bigger person, because i know the person she can be. I am complete lost of words on what to do. My family loves her and her family, and they say she needs help, but none is dedicated in helping her get help. And im on my last straws, i only can deal with so much humiliation from her. She calls her friends and talk about what i do to her like im just bad to her. And everyone see how good I am to her, and everyone see's that but her. But when they tell her how good I am to her. She tels them why are you taken his side. Its not taking sides. But if she can do what she wants she is fine, but when I complain about something she gets mad and depressed. Maybe I need some help on how to talk to deprresed people. How do you talk to depressed people. We lived 4 hours away from her parents and she says she wish she was around her parents, we moved to her hometown with her parents. She wanted our own house, i got us a house, she wanted a car, i got her a car, she wanted some furniture, i got furniture. But she still is depressed, about something, but i dont know. And i feel like a fool, because im still here putting up with this. Im really consered for my kids, i dont want this to rub off on my kids. What should i do?
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Answers (2)
7/ 4/10 4:18pm

Hello there, GreenldBoy.  I'm sorry things are so difficult for you right now.  I was wondering if your wife has a psychiatrist, or if she was getting her medications from a general practice doctor.  It does require patience to get the dosage right as everyone's body is different.  Psychiatrists are much more experienced in these medications than are other doctors. It sounds like her postpartum depression never got resolved.  You don't mention whether or not she has a therapist, but I would strongly suggest that she find one.  Perhaps you could get one of her family members to help her do that, if she won't listen to you.

 

The other thing I'd suggest is that, if nothing else, you find a therapist for yourself so that you have some support in dealing with this.  It would be great if you could get her to go to a couples therapist with you, as well, but she might need more urgent treatment right now and may not be ready to do it as a couple.  All of this will help your children cope, as well.  They do know when things aren't right and I think it's wonderful that you are trying to find a way to get this resolved.  You need to take care of yourself and not let her abuse you in any way.  If things really get out of hand, maybe she'll need to be hospitalized, but that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if they can get her stabilized.

 

I wish you all the best - please let us know if there is anything else we can do.  We're here to listen, at least, and share our experiences.  Should you be in an emergency situation, you can call one of these crisis lines:

 

 Please let us know how you're doing, okay?

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7/ 5/10 12:30pm

I just want you to know that your not alone i'm going through the same thing with my husband and looking for answers too. we have three girls and i am worried about the same things. i just want to have a normal life and family for my kids.

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7/ 5/10 12:56pm

I know sometimes I just sit there and want to leave so bad.  But I look at my kids, and dont want my kids to suffer,  But they are still suffering, but you love them so much, and know the person they use to be,  Just hoping there is something that could change them.  I cant tell her anything to help her, so I talk to her mother, because she listens to her mother, but she gets mad at me for telling her mother,  But thats the only way I can get through to her.  Yeah i agree, my daughter is very smart, and she looks at my wife when she is crying.  And she starts crying, and will come over to me and say Daddy is making momma cry.  I try to be strong but its so hard because I havent done anything.  And she says Daddy you need to be nice to momma, and the only thing im doing is trying to be a better husband.  Sorry sometimes I feel better when I can vent on  how I feel.

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7/ 5/10 1:27pm

i'm the same way. my husband has a bad temper i talk to his mom but it doesnt always help my family really has no idea what i deal with on a daily basis its so hard. i dont want my kids thinking this is normal at all. i just dont know what to do anymore. i found this site looking for a support group or something. i couldnt find anything like that on here. my girls are smart good kids and dont deserve this. i struggle to keep things as normal as i can for them but the verbal abuse and mental stress is starting to get to me

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7/ 6/10 5:25am
Yeah I agree, and they say to support your wife, and you have to understand that she is going through depression. And i try my best to support her. But after a while they can say some harsh things to you. Then any normal person is going to get tired of hearing it and want to defend themselves. Its almost like your suppose to just site there and let them talk to you any kind of way, and when you try to talk to them about something, your beign mean. Or they want to leave, or start saying you dont, love them, or im going to kill myself. The bad thing about this is, she goes to the doctor, and the doc ask how she's doing, and she tells the doc that im still depressed, and she gives her some pills. Then my wife says well i still cant sleep, then the doc prescribes her Ambien. Then she says well have you still being having headaches, my wife says yes, then she prescribes her some meds for headaches. And im thinking to myself, she's been talking about killing herself, and we prescribe her pain killers and Ambien a sleeping med. Then when I tell the doc not to perscribe them for her, then I have to deal with her at home. Im just confused and dont know what to do. Everyone says that she needs to see a Phyciatrist, Im the only one working and paying bills, and i cant afford one. So I really dont have a chose..Im just so tired.. Reply
7/ 6/10 2:06pm

Hi again.  I have here a link to a sharepost written last year by Merely Me about how to get mental health treatment when you don't have insurance or the money.  Do not let this stop you from getting a psychiatrist for your wife.  A psychiatrist would most likely not prescribe all these different medications and would know more about how to go about finding the right one(s) for your wife.  I hope you can find something in this post that will be helpful.  Hang in there and don't feel like you have to take abuse from her.  Try to set some boundaries, if you can, without caving in to threats or blame.  You might try just saying "I'm not going to continue this conversation until you've calmed down and stop making me the bad guy."  You're giving her all the power right now and she's not in a place where she should have it.

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By GreenIdBoy— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 07/04/10