Need to vent and hopefully get some advice

[rrichardson]

I feel a little embarrassed admitting this, but I counted my husband's medications to see if he has been taking them. He was recently prescribed a medication to help him with agitation, but after a week of being on it I haven't noticed any differences and I know medications can take awhile to really make a difference. Anyhow, he hasn't been taking them regularly as I suspected which literally baffles me. I also suffer from mental health diagnoses and my medications are like a life line. They help me and it's hard for me to understand why anyone wouldn't take them to alleviate symptoms. I'm sick of watching my husband feel the way he does, but I also need to concentrate on our kids and myself.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello Richardson

Thank you for your message. You are a very caring person and you can only encourage your husband to take his prescribed medications and suggest that he sees his GP or support worker to assess how he is getting on. Just being there and listening to him can be very helpful.

We are also aware that you too are coping with such a lot and as you say you need to be looking after your children and especially yourself.

Sometimes different people cope or function in very different ways and neither is wrong but just different.

We hope that our very supportive members may have more insight or suggestions to help.

Do keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes

[hypercat54]

Hi very difficult. I think men tend to see mental health issues as a flaw in themselves and a weakness. It's their male ego which gets in the way as they often won't admit to themselves they need help.

Point out to him that the biggest single cause of death for men aged between 25-40 in the western world is suicide. This is because they often won't seek help and try and deal with it themselves. Sometimes this means self medicating - alcohol and illegal drugs which is a road to nowhere except hell.

I don't have any answers but I wish you luck. x