Depression Support Group

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It is always legitimate to ask any professionals you are thinking about seeing regularly about their understanding of depression, their beliefs about the causes of depression and their philosophy of treatment. You might ask about how often the prospective doctor has worked with people who have had your particular variety of depression. If you have a rapidly cycling Bipolar depression, for example, you should seek a doctor who has much experience dealing with people who have this problem.

Try to create a safe environment for the partner to express thoughts without feeling threatened, constrained or condemned. Your partner desperately needs a nurturing, safe place to express the incredible frustration with the illness. Share your feelings honestly and openly with your children and other relatives. It is OK to feel angry and cheated. At times you may feel embarrassed by the ill partner's behavior. Avoid trying to protect your partner by not discussing the problem with family and friends. Don't require your partner to conspire with you in a code of family secrecy.

There are many classes of antidepressants. Two kinds of antidepressants have been around for over 30 years. These are the tricyclic antidepressants and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors. While there are newer antidepressants, many with fewer side-effects, none of the newer antidepressants has been shown to be more effective than these two classes of drugs. In fact, many people who have not responded to newer antidepressants have been successfully treated with one of these classes of drugs.

Depression Support is located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and is dedicated to collecting and distributing information on depression. It is funded by a grant from the Eastern Health Unit of the Department of Health and is assisted by a number of mental health professionals in the area.

Treatment should involve the entire family, so find a professional who will work with the whole family. You know more about the illness of your partner than anyone else. Realistically assess what your partner can and cannot handle, then compensate assertively. Some people with mental illnesses cannot handle money, some household chores, time commitments or too much stress. You must not do things for partners that they cannot do for themselves.

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