Helping SIL with depression, any tips?

[thumpersfriend]

I was at my SIL's yesterday and her place was trashed, couldn't even see the carpet. It has been like this for several years but now there are at least 50 unopened packages from HSN & QVC. She is a nurse but got fired last December and started at another place and was supposedly working but I just found out she has been fired from there in April! She has been telling everyone she is working. I went to talk with her and she said she has been depressed and couldn't take any medication because it bothers her stomach. She is seeing a psychiatriast once every 3 weeks. She is blaming everything on her childhood, and I asked if she told him she has a bad spending problem. What else can I do to help? She was in a car accident 2 years ago and got l00,000 and we figure she is through that already. She says she buys because it makes her happy. She has a stack of QVC receipts about 2 foot high. Any good suggestions? Should I back off now that she knows that others know her situation. People in her complex tell us she gets several packages delivered every day. Thanks for any insight into this.

 

[Beauty]

Wow!
It sounds like someone needs to step in. I honestly don't know if you by yourself is enough. I suffered from depression and anxiety and I still fight it every day but I finally came to a point where I refused to let it have my life. I could very well have been your SIL.

The only difference is I begged for help and medicine. She definatly needs something! Perhaps a in center stay. She has to be willing, however, to do something to help herself. Once every 3 weeks isn't enough. She needs every day care until she gets a handle on this.

Depression is truly disabilitating and can get worse and worse even to the point of suicide if not treated. Perhaps an intervention with her family and friends??

Hugs and prayers, this is such a hard hard situation!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

So, she is compulsively buying stuff from QVC? It honestly sounds like she needs to take medication or get a shrink who will do more for her. I would maybe try to get other family members involved too, it sounds pretty serious. Good luck!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't know if she truly is seeing a psychiatrist but even if she is he or she may not be aware of her home situation. It is difficult because of privacy laws but perhaps you should call your own family doctor and ask how to proceed, telling them what you've said here (you don't necessarily have to tell them who she is).

It sounds to me like she really needs help and I doubt if she is really seeing someone since she's resisted treatment and has lied about other things too. She needs a psychiatric evaluation and possibly even hospitalization to sort out what's going on, particularly if she is suicidal or unable to safely take care of herself or manage her finances so she won't end up homeless. She may have an organic brain injury from the accident which has contributed to her current situation, who knows. Let a psychiatrist (an MD) sort it out.

I have deal with this in my family and unfortunately the person never got help. I would do things differently today.

 

[Lachesis00]