My Muslim mum dies nothing all day and waits for death, I think she is depressed...
This comment was posted to reddit on Feb 17, 2020 at 12:20 pm and was deleted within 7 hour(s) and 54 minutes.
My Muslim mum dies nothing all day and waits for death, I think she is depressed, how can I help her?
Your mother needs a psychiatrist or psychologist. She will probably need medication for her depression. Yes, she is depressed. If she does not want to go to a psychiatrist, bring her to her PCP, go into the examination room with her, if she will allow that, and tell the doctor that she is depressed and doesn't know what to do about it. Also tell the doctor that your mother is depressed and you don't know what to do about it. she could be suffering from something else but I do think she is depressed. The doctor will give her medication initially. Then she will refer her to a psychologist or psychiatrist.
There's a good chance your mother may not want to go. It is very important that you find out what's going on. It is also very important that you support her unconditionally. That may mean sitting through hours of her rambling, anger, angry at you, etc. Keep your mouth shut If you don't have the answers. She just needs to get it out of her system. She will appreciate you later on when she's feeling better.
Depression may not be her only problem. There are a litany of mental illnesses that she may be experiencing, ranging from schizophrenia to obsessive compulsive disorder to bipolar disorder. If you love your mother, and want to help, learn about how to help someone you love with mental illness.
Take her to her first mental illness appointment.
Go to therapy with her.
Encourage her friends or anyone to encourage her to keep her therapy appointments. This is something that she will have to do, or maybe have to do, for the rest of her life, whether she's feeling good or not.
You're a good person. Mental illness or not, most people do not get to support they need. I can tell you love your mother. The visit to her doctor may not come for months. What I mean by that is that you have to start slowly. That may mean getting her washed up, brushing her teeth and her hair, and taking a stroll through your own yard. That's the process some of us have to take to get big things accomplished. We have to do small things first. So sit in your yard with her, for months if you have to. It will get her to the doctor eventually.