uplifting mood

[Lassie1331]

My husband is in a really low mood recently, due to his deteriorating MSA-C. I am wondering if anyone has been prescribed anything to lift their mood. He was prescribed Sertraline before MSA due to anxiety but he seems depressed now.

[diyducky]

Hello,

The mental health side is something I haven’t seen many posts about on here.

My husband already suffered with Depression and Anxiety. He was firstly told he had Cerebella Ataxia and then given a probable diagnosis of Multiple Symptom Atrophy in December 2018. At this point he was told that this condition does not have a cure and is life limiting to approximately 7-9 years.

He was suicidal and I had to call in the local Urgent Care and Assessment Team. They used to call them the crisis team. It was a very difficult time. He saw a very good psychiatrist and had daily visits from their team for about a month. This was in 2020 so the pandemic may have added to his mental health symptoms.

He tried a few different medications. Some of them were not suitable because they had an adverse effect on his postural hypotension. Now he has Vortioxetine once a day for the depression and Lorazepam 3 times a day for the anxiety. He also has Clonazepam at night. He has 8 or 9 other medications too but not related to depression and anxiety.

His mood is stable now mostly although we have recently had a bereavement in the family and he is struggling with that. The emotional lability makes it harder for him.

Sorry for the long explanation but hopefully it will help others out there who are carers or have MSA to know that you are not alone.

Lorna

[Lassie1331 in reply to diyducky]

Thank you Lorna

It sounds like similar circumstances as my husband suffered low mood and anxiety for many years. He also expressed wanting to take his own life after diagnosis but fortunately has said he couldn’t do it to his family and now would have to be given the meds which would involve someone else which is just a no go. I will speak to his GP about meds. Thank you

[diyducky in reply to Lassie1331]

Hello,

I had a feeling that your description -low mood -might actually mean quite a bit more than just feeling a bit gloomy.

GP was where we went initially. My husband did do some online courses too and we went on a mental health walk with one of the local groups that were suggested to him.

I recently attended a course run by the charity "Mind". It was called - Carers Mental Wellbeing and Resilience. It's not the sort of thing I would usually sign up to but actually it was interesting and helpful.

I hope your husband gets the help he needs and that you don't get swamped by thinking that you have to be the strong one all the time.

Lorna

[Lassie1331 in reply to diyducky]

Just an update. Our GP came to see us and has upped Rob’s sertraline and has referred my husband to Mental Health Services. He now has an appointment but not until June which lets us know just how busy they are.

Thanks again

[diyducky in reply to Lassie1331]

Hello,

So glad that Rob is getting the help he needs. Mental Health referrals always seem to take a while but June isn’t that far away.

Stay strong and hopefully, with summer just around the corner, we’ll get some brighter days.

Lorna

[esj20]

hi Lassie,

Pre MSA I was on venlafaxine due to poor mental health, suffered since my very early 20’s, now I have the support from a consultant psychiatrist along with four other drugs.

Has my mood improved? I would say no but it’s manageable. I do feel fortunate that I can openly communicate and have the desire to do so.

From experience the best thing that I’ve done is actually say to myself” it’s ok to feel like this”. Feeling like this doesn’t make my life unbearable but, makes me look at things more holistically and pragmatically.

Talking also helps and if you can push for a referral to psychiatric services,

Wishing you both well,

Alec