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.
well now I find out that my mom who says she has stage 4 osteoporosis is not taking any medication to reverse it, and according to what she said when she first learned about it, 2 years ago, that with medications it was still reversible. She's refusing to take it, and with dad in the shape he's in, and he's refusing to quit work.
I thought they were the Happy Halleluiah and Glory to God Christians, yet I work harder to live, and to be healthy than they do. They just give up. Where's their God? I mean isn't that just a slow suicide. are they more depressed than I am? They're both in bad health and are both refusing to do anything that could extend or improve their life.
My dad I feel sorry for because I honestly think he doesn't think he has a choice but to keep working. Mom, she is making me mad. Her situation is reversible, or it was, and EVERY damned medication they put her on she finds a reason why she can't take it. I have to realize inside that she has lost a lot of her closest relatives, and is probably already sad, and now this with dad is just nails in her casket to her I guess.
I thought they were the Happy Halleluiah and Glory to God Christians, yet I work harder to live, and to be healthy than they do. They just give up. Where's their God? I mean isn't that just a slow suicide. are they more depressed than I am? They're both in bad health and are both refusing to do anything that could extend or improve their life.
My dad I feel sorry for because I honestly think he doesn't think he has a choice but to keep working. Mom, she is making me mad. Her situation is reversible, or it was, and EVERY damned medication they put her on she finds a reason why she can't take it. I have to realize inside that she has lost a lot of her closest relatives, and is probably already sad, and now this with dad is just nails in her casket to her I guess.
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Caring-For-Aging-Parents/support-group
I joined it 3 years ago when my MIL moved in. Since then my mother and then my father have gotten in poor health and passed away. My MIL is still with us!
The group is small, but we have a lot of experience and are happy to share.
You don't have many options with your mother. You can't force her to take her meds unless you have a court order, and even then it can be hard since she has options.
There are no laws that require us to take care of our parents, but once we start there are laws (that vary from state to state) that have minimum care requirements.
I'd suggest that you contact a lawyer in your state so you can find out what rights, responsibilities etc you have relative to care for your parents.
If you do anticipate taking care of them, there is some prep work that you would need to get started soon. Getting on their bank accounts will help you make sure that bills can be paid even if they are not physically able to do it themselves. Getting the various POA (Power Of Attorney) in place is important too. Typically there are 3 legal things that need to be taken care of: health care POA, POA for financial issues, and Advanced Directives so that the staff in what ever facility they are in will respect their end of life wishes.
I am so sorry that your mother is putting your through this. It really sounds like she is trying to hasten her end.
Gentle hugs
As to the fogeys, you don't say how old they are, but I have to tell you that the religious point of view about death is about 180* diametrically opposed to the atheist view.
Atheists live now, because that's all they get.
Religious folk - well they just can't wait to get to the next place.
See?
So whereas you consider taking care of your health to be a no-brainer, they're champing at the bit to meet up with old Mavis and have another game of Mahjong in the hereafter. The'y're gagging for another shot at beating old Bruce and Marge at bridge. And they're anticipating getting that when they die.
You and me? We're making the most of what we've got. Them, they couldn't care less about this mortal shell.
In fact if you really get into it there's a fabulous novel by CS lewis called "The Screwtape Letters" where an older devil is training up his nephew to become a good devil, and when the victim goes to war and the nephew is saying 'yay, he might die' the uncle's saying NO, NO, make him live a LONG time! Let him get happy and complacent in this material world, that way he has more chances to be swayed the easy, slow, materialistic way.
I thought it was an intriguing way of putting it. But no. Don't believe in that stuff myself.