How can I get my wife to take her medication for depression?!
Question: How can I get my wife to take her medication for depression.?
My wife has been fighting with depression for almost her whole life. A few months ago we found a combination of medication that helps her feel like herself.
When she does not take her medication she ignores the children or yells at them and locks them in their room for "time out" instead of getting down on their level and playing with them. When I come home after working 120 hours she is cold and distant and mostly talks to me to complain about someone in her life that bothers her in some way. She also snaps at me and says things that she would normally never say if she was properly medicated.
When she is taking her med's she acts happy, enjoys doing activities with the children and we can talk about us and what we love to do.
So how can I help my wife to stay on her medication. The reason she gives me is that she gets too busy with projects and forgets. I can't physically make her take her medication but her lack of feeling as though this is a priority is having serious complications with our marriage.
Any suggestions.?Health Question & Answer
When she does not take her medication she ignores the children or yells at them and locks them in their room for "time out" instead of getting down on their level and playing with them. When I come home after working 120 hours she is cold and distant and mostly talks to me to complain about someone in her life that bothers her in some way. She also snaps at me and says things that she would normally never say if she was properly medicated.
When she is taking her med's she acts happy, enjoys doing activities with the children and we can talk about us and what we love to do.
So how can I help my wife to stay on her medication. The reason she gives me is that she gets too busy with projects and forgets. I can't physically make her take her medication but her lack of feeling as though this is a priority is having serious complications with our marriage.
Any suggestions.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Get a little creative. She needs to actually see her own behavior in order to make her medication a priority. Try setting a video camera up or have friends over to help her. You need to prepare something of an intervention, but do it with love. She needs to see how her behavior is affecting you, and your children. Show her pictures of the "good version of her", and then show her what you are seeing when she isn't taking her meds. Help her make it a priority, remind her what she wants to be, and be there for her. She may fall a few times, but once she feels your support, and knows how important this is not only for her, but for her family, she will be more willing to make a conscious effort.Health Question & Answer
The long working hours you have is putting a strain on your relationship. You may want to see about a job change.
There are plastic containers with compartments for storing medication until needed. Some are set up for a weeks worth of medication consumption. Getting the containers and using them can make a great difference. Health Question & Answer
There are plastic containers with compartments for storing medication until needed. Some are set up for a weeks worth of medication consumption. Getting the containers and using them can make a great difference. Health Question & Answer
Try and give her, her medication in the morning with a cup of tea,,,,also talk to her about all the issues you have,,,she needs to understand that you are only trying to help her for her benefit. Or tell one of the children to say to mummy I like it when your happy mummy, Sometimes it is very hard to get someone to help themselves.....all the best.....take careHealth Question & Answer
talk to her alone at first
If you are not successful, you need an intervention.
I feel that I do need to point out that your wife may need more help at home. If you are working 100+ hours, she is probably overwhelmed with the kids.Health Question & Answer
If you are not successful, you need an intervention.
I feel that I do need to point out that your wife may need more help at home. If you are working 100+ hours, she is probably overwhelmed with the kids.Health Question & Answer
"Communication" Is The Key. EHealth Question & Answer
How does one forget to take their medication.? Mental illness is a disease just like any other, so for her to claim that she gets to busy is simply a excuse, bottom line is that she just doesn't want to, for what reason I cant explain.? But you on the other hand can and should figure this out, you can do this by asking questions regarding how she feels while shes taking her medication.? does it cause any unpleasant side effects.? etc. You state that she does so much better on the medication, does she see this as well.? So start asking questions, you need to find the truth, and I hope for you and your kids that you do.Health Question & Answer
I have been on the opposite side of this, I used to take medication for my depression and anxiety. Honestly, the biggest reason for my quitting was because I just couldn't seem to get into the habit of taking them. My husband would start to notice after a few days of my skipping them, when I would be more depressed than ever. That's the terrible thing about anti-depressants. If you stop taking them all at once, you feel lower than you ever felt before. Thankfully, with therapy, meditation, and the absolute patience of my husband, I've been able to lead a life without prescription drugs....but your wife's illness may be much more serious than mine.
I don't know why I couldn't commit, I'm sure there was some deep-seated issue there, but I'll tell you- patience was what I needed the most. When you are dealing with your wife, you must always keep in mind that she has a very serious illness, and just like with any illness, the cure may come slowly. Take your wife out alone, let her complain to you, let her release all of her stress from the day. You're working 120 hours and I'm sure it's very stressful. But she is probably putting in a stressful day as well, taking care of the home, the children, and everything that that involves. Besides that, she's doing it with these absolutely overwhelming thoughts, this weight laying over her. It's a truly painful thing. Just try to communicate your feelings.
As for getting her to take her meds, first and foremost, she is an adult. She's responsible for her own well-being, there's very little your intervention can do in that respect. But I would suggest taking your own vitamins and supplements at a certain time (say, dinner), while making sure she takes her. Set alarms to make sure she has no excuse for forgetting. And when you remind her, don't do it in a parental tone, just ask nonchalantly. I think making it a daily occurence no different from taking birth control or vitamins will help her not feel so "different" than the rest of the word.
It's a hard thing having to take a pill just to be "normal" like everyone else, the thing she needs most is your love and support.
Health Question & Answer
I don't know why I couldn't commit, I'm sure there was some deep-seated issue there, but I'll tell you- patience was what I needed the most. When you are dealing with your wife, you must always keep in mind that she has a very serious illness, and just like with any illness, the cure may come slowly. Take your wife out alone, let her complain to you, let her release all of her stress from the day. You're working 120 hours and I'm sure it's very stressful. But she is probably putting in a stressful day as well, taking care of the home, the children, and everything that that involves. Besides that, she's doing it with these absolutely overwhelming thoughts, this weight laying over her. It's a truly painful thing. Just try to communicate your feelings.
As for getting her to take her meds, first and foremost, she is an adult. She's responsible for her own well-being, there's very little your intervention can do in that respect. But I would suggest taking your own vitamins and supplements at a certain time (say, dinner), while making sure she takes her. Set alarms to make sure she has no excuse for forgetting. And when you remind her, don't do it in a parental tone, just ask nonchalantly. I think making it a daily occurence no different from taking birth control or vitamins will help her not feel so "different" than the rest of the word.
It's a hard thing having to take a pill just to be "normal" like everyone else, the thing she needs most is your love and support.
Health Question & Answer