Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
Lately, I've been struggling to feel positive.
My mum has been seriously ill since last year, she's had two strokes but she's troubled in the sense that she continued to smoke and eat poorly. Her body has really deteriorated and the reality is, it's only a matter of time. My family and I have accepted this and we're doing more to spend time with her but she has a habit of shutting us out and clinging to her laptop which connects her to her family in the phillipines. I get this, I know it helps to tune out the noise but the disconnection hurts sometimes.
I'm also struggling to function daily, I can't bring myself to do the usual chores or go to work without an extreme amount of effort. It kills me that I can't be normal and just get through the day like normal people can. But of course, in order to live, we need to make money and considering my landlord is increasing my rent from $590 to $750 weekly, not working isn't an option.
I am getting tired but I know I can't give up. I need to push through and stay strong. Things will get better for all of us, it just takes time.
You can also request for the services of a dietician through social services, or via referral by your family doctor or hospital. The dietician can help you with ways to increase your mother's nutrient intakes. For elderly person who is ill (or not ill), they usually take some form of protein supplements e.g Ensure drinks to provide proteins and nutrients that are not coming from the diet. I know that in US, the elderly are given subsidies to buy Ensure milk to aid with their diet because sick persons or the elderly would have poor absorption of proteins. These protein supplements are very good in increasing weight in debilitated persons, especially good in reversing muscle atrophy.
You can ask your Mom to join an online support group such as this, which have people who suffer the same disease(s) as your mother's. Social engagement is very good because it stimulates the mind in persons that have brain injury. The brain has capacity to heal after strokes. You may like to enroll your Mom in some kind of brain rehabilitation program through the hospital that offer exercises which stimulate the brain to promote recovery. Your Mom is still within the 2 years recovery period after onset of strokes, so there is a good chance her brain may recover if she participates in rehabilitation exercises.
There are nicotine replacement aids e.g nicotine chewing gums/inhaler that she can use in lieu of cigarettes, so you may like to convince her to try.
I know that the above suggestions sound expensive, but where I live, these rehab programs, social support group, dietician services are available for free through referral by the hospital system. Perhaps you can contact the stroke unit where your mother was hospitalised to ask if they can refer your Mom to rehab classes.
If your mother can recover sufficient daily function, your burden would ease and you will not so stressed. Don't forget to look after yourself; if you collapse now, your whole family would collapse.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Perhaps our friends on the forum may like to join in and offer other suggestions. Best wishes, and take care.