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BodegaBayCA65 Asked September 2014

What do you do when your major depressive disorder interferes with your caregiving duties?

I recently collapsed from exhaustion taking care of my 89 year old mother and was admitted to the Mental Behavioral Ward of my local hospital. My previous doctor had me on 5 different drugs for depression and anxiety which had me crying incessantly and feeling hopeless. I checked myself into the facility and thanks to God a new doc straightened out my medication but told me I had caregiver stress syndrome. I have been taking care of mom for 5 years with some help from my son who lives in the house owned by my mother. He and his fiance had to completely take over for 5 days while I was being treated. My son was angry with me for admitting myself and his girlfriend accused me of being crazy and the reason why she didn't pass her nursing state board test. They oppose everything I would like to do for my mother and according to my doctor it would involve placing her in a assisted living facility. My mother adamantly refuses to leave her home and has made it clear to all that she intends to die in her own home meanwhile not thinking about the health and welfare of me. I hear about other families who are able to keep their mother or father at home only with all the adult children pitching in and sharing the responsibilities. This is not so in my case. My brother and his hateful wife have weaseled out of their responsibility to my mother and always go to visit her sister every holiday season including Christmas, New Years Eve, Easter, and Thanksgiving. They haven't been here to share any holidays with my mother in years. I can tell you my depression has gotten a bit better after being released from the hospital but it is slowly returning as I am right back in the same situation I just left. I have many resources that were given to me when I left the hospital but my son and mother don't want strangers coming into the home even for a few hours in the morning which could give me some time to find a part time job and start saving a little for my own retirement. I certainly can tell my son and his wife to be wont be around to help me when I am old. I am very bitter and sad at the same time and am afraid I am going to end up back in the psych ward if all of this continues to go on as before. Me being the bad guy wanting mom to go to an adult day care or ALF. She has Dementia and I am told it is only going to get worse. Thankyou for your kind advice.

pamstegma Sep 2014
You let go. You back off. You save your own life. Someone else has to care for your mother, not you. Limit your visit to once a week. That will force your mother to accept reality. We had to do the same. Only by cutting back were we able to get her to Assisted Living. We paid for it with SS and the rent from her house. Yes, sonny boy may have to pay rent and utilities, you are cutting him loose too. Fiancee will have to learn to study harder, her caregiving obviously did not enhance her knowledge base, nor did it deplete it. Roll up your hero cape and save your own life. I had to back off caring for my daughter, because of stress disorder. My gallant husband retired and took over, but he only lasted a month before he blew up at both of us. Save yourself, because you are the Fixer, everyone dumps on YOU. Enough is enough, and maybe too much.

Countrymouse Sep 2014
Explain this bit, please:

"... I have many resources that were given to me when I left the hospital but my son and mother don't want strangers coming into the home even for a few hours in the morning which could give me some time…"

So who asked them? Excuse my language, but f**k that. Make calls and get those resources back. YOU say who comes into that house because you're the one who has been made responsible for caring for the household.

I know I'm getting bitter in my old age but I really have seen enough of selfish, blinkered, arrogant, idiotic young men to last me. Cheeky little sod. What makes him think he has the say-so? And Glor if your mother needs help to the extent that you can't leave her side then frankly she's in no position to argue with you. Say to yourself "I AM doing this" as often as you need to - eventually it will catch. Best of luck, big hug.

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littletonway Sep 2014
Exactly what Pam said. You have done enough and it is time to take care of yourself and your future. Son and fiancé need a good pop across the butt. I cannot imagine anyone being so disrespectful. You need to send them packing.

One person cannot do all that you have been doing and survive. Let Mom know you physically and mentally will no longer be a slave and will visit once a week. Take a deep breath and relax; then go find that part time job. Call social services and sign her up for everything she is eligible for asap. Wishing you all the best!

TheBoogs Sep 2014
I find myself always agreeing with you, Pam!

Glomorth - I am one step away from the psych ward myself. My mother is not willing to leave her home either. She is adamant on dying here as well, just as my dad did. But the one thing is, I also have sisters who refuse to caretake as well (one of them does do a lot though), but I'm the main caregiver.

I've learned a lot these past few years. You cannot take care of someone else, UNTIL you take care of YOU. I have anxiety and depression really bad, more so, anxiety. But now, I'm in a depressive state of mind where I cannot function properly. It's all I can do to get myself out of bed in the morning.

The one thing that helps me is BARKING. (Yes you read that correctly.) I have learned to speak up and scream, "HELP!" It's strange, because people don't realize how much you really do for them, until you stop.

Back off. Take some much needed time off for you - not saying jump into a psychiatric ward, but really quality time for you - something you enjoy. I get to do that twice a year. It's very needed. Even if it's for a couple of days, it really makes a world of a difference.

I'm starting to grasp onto my hobbies while being in charge of my mother. Delve into something you enjoy.

I can't tell you what to do regarding your son, or not to be afraid of how he'll be when you're that age, but there is no guarantee of a caretaker for anyone - even if they have 15 kids.

Like yourself, I'm noticing that my siblings don't come by as they used to - just to have coffee and bagels with mom. Holidays are very different. Things do change and you'll start to notice people's true colors…unfortunately.

Again, just keep in mind, people only notice all the value of your good deeds, until you stop doing them. Try it. Show your worth.

Good luck…
{{hugs}}

freqflyer Sep 2014
glornorth59, OMG what happened? Back in late August you were finally going to move out, get your life back, and find employment. That sounded so good, but something got you circled back around to being back with your Mom. Go back to that plan, otherwise there will be an instant replay.

From past postings, it sounds like your son doesn't want his Grandmother to move to a nursing home because then he, his girlfriend and their toddler would be out on the street once the house sold. As I had said before, he needs to grow up and take care of his own new family.

Go with your moving plan, your son can take care of his grandmother since it sounds like he wants full control [no strangers in the house]. Then and maybe then he will realize how difficult full-time caregiving can be. And then he might even suggest that his Grandmother needs to be in a nursing home. Don't worry, you will be just around the corner to catch anyone should they fall [not literally].

Catlover Sep 2014
Hi glornorth59,

My heart goes out to you. I'm glad you got help in the hospital, and that you were given some direction and resources. You are not the bad guy for wanting your Mom to go to ALF or Adult Day Care, although I understand the guilt!

The two posters who responded earlier are right-on. You need to survive, and you need to take care of YOU. I'm glad you posted here, and are asking for feedback. It will get better if you can get more help for your Mom, and more support for you - people who have your best interests at heart (hint: son and fiancé are not in that category!). Take care, Sheryl

BarbBrooklyn Sep 2014
Glor, You are the only one who can save you. Start taking care of yourself right now. Everyone else in this picture is displaying lots of self centered behavior. In a scenario like this, you have to do the same or you'll be eaten alive. You sought medical advice and it was given. You must back off.

Eyerishlass Sep 2014
You are not a victim to this situation. You can change it if you want. I too remember your previous post this past summer but it doesn't sound like anything's changed.

You know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Why do you expect things are going to change? Do you think someone is going to look at you and say, "She needs help! We'd better do the right thing so she's ok!" No, that's not going to happen. You need to make the change, no one's going to do it for you.

vicky64 Sep 2014
Your son did figure out in 5 days what it took to take care of grandma. Grandma has dementia and like my folks has a tough time making decisions that will change anything of importance. The Doctor said "Assisted Living would be best". Use the Doctor to help imprint on everyone that you can not do this alone and that Grandma needs care you are not able to provide anymore. Be proactive. I have 3 siblings. We are all on the same page. and if and when we are not, we have a meeting just between us and we come to the same conclusion, whatever that may be. (Blessed by parents that did this between themselves before handing down the various 'verdicts' of our youth!) Still, it is hard to change their lives when they are kicking and screaming, figuratively!!
My heart goes out to you, but I pray you will be firm enough and strong enough to change the situation before it gets worse!...........Blessings!

bookluvr Sep 2014
Glor, I'm sad to say that your son and his fiancee only think of themselves. Not his grandmother. Not his mother. For you son to speak to you with such disrespect and his fiancee learning from his example - and doing the same to you .... Don't you think it's time these selfish uncaring people learn what true life is about? Don't you think it's time to Cut the Apron String?

I know it's scary to think of finding a job - just the thought of doing interviews {{shudder}} scares me silly. But, you are able to face your mother's issues - you can also face interviews. Just tell yourself this over and over. You know when I was job hunting in my early 20's, I was very very timid. I couldn't even look at people in the eyes. I practiced in my bedroom looking in the mirror, of doing an interview. I think I even recorded being the interviewer. (I did this to all my speech classes and skits that I had to perform on stage.) I recorded the other person, turned on the tape recorder, played the interviewer's question, paused it, and I looked in the mirror - directly into my eyes (that was soooo difficult to even look into my eyes) - and replied to the question. I made sure to gesture, to smile, to look into the eyes, etc.. This worked very well. I had gone through several different job interviews. Once you get a job, this is your foot in the door to moving out.

Your mom and the kids will not learn from anything if you're there 24/7 doing it all. It's time to step back or away, and let the chips fall. Your son and his fiancee might abandon ship (grandma) because they don't want to do what you've been doing. No one will step in to help your mom if you're always there 24/7. APS or the social workers will only step in if your mom becomes a danger to herself - and that means she has to get hurt before they will interfere.

If you insist in staying with your mom, then life will continue 'as is.' Nothing is going to change - except you might suffer a stroke/heart attack. As caregivers of siblings who don't help at all - we know that our siblings will not help us if they cannot even help their own parents. Isn't it time for your son/fiancee to learn to be adults? So, go and find that job! Save up enough to find a decent place, etc....

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