There must be an answer

[vicster552]

My husband has suffered with depression for as long as i can remember, but just recently he is really bad with it. He's been a big drinker most of his life, but hasn't had a drink for 2 week. He has recently had a blood test for his liver and the reading has come back as 195. The doctor said the normal reading is between 1-50. I don't really know what the reading was for as i was so shocked with the figures.He changed his medication for depression and has given him some tablets called Mirtazapine. His biggest problem is he can't sleep. If he could rest through the night I am sure he would manage better through the day. I wondered if you had any advice for us. He eats really healthy meals

[hava]

Tell him to do this pranayam - breathing technique, twice a day. This will get him better sleep, and let me know, how he feels after 21 days.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed. Keep eyes closed, when doing pranayam.
September 2, 2011

[mammo]

Your husband can't fight these demons alone, and should consider AA to help with his alcohol addiction.  He's been self-medicating for quite some time and is going to need help to stop.  He may learn thru therapy why he is depressed and he may not, some of us never learn why.   But it can help him in so many other ways. Until he gets involved in something like AA, the drinking will consume his every thought.  You should attend an Alanon meeting in your area and educate yourself on alcohol addiction, and why he needs something structured like this to help him get over this.  Alcoholism is a life-long thing, and with AA he will always have a sponsor to call when he starts getting the urge to drink.  I certainly understand your concern, as it's not a healthy enviroment for you or your children.  It sounds like alcohol is his biggest demon and I know many who have regained their self control thru AA.  I hope this helps. I feel so bad for you and your children and hopefully he will get the needed help.  Take care.

[vicster552]

Thank you for your reply. Yes the doctor is going to contact the Mental Health team. He has been to group therapy before which really sempt to help him, but his drinking crept up again and he's also smoked quite alot cannabis. I am so worried about him and want him to be able to fight his demons but he's made so many promises before. We have three children and it's not fair in them. He's such a good man and we all need him.

[RubyWitch]

You don't mention anything about your husband getting therapy for his depression. Has he ever tried it? The medication(s) will help, but they only mask the symptoms, they won't fix the cause of his depression. Therapy can do that. It's good that your husband has stopped drinking for two reasons. The most obvious is his liver panel numbers. He needs to sit up and really pay attention to those. They are not good. The other reason is that alcohol is a depressant. If you've got someone who is deeply depressed and drinks pretty heavily, the results are a deeper depression. It's also not a good idea to drink while on antidepressants.
In my humble opinion, the best thing your husband could do both for himself and for you is to get into therapy to figure where the depression is coming from and deal with it. It seems apparent that the medication is not enough and the alcohol is just exacerbating the whole problem.
If he won't listen to you about therapy, perhaps you could enlist the help of his doctor.
There are also support groups for families dealing with these issues and I think you would benefit greatly by attending. These are tough problems to go through alone and in these groups you will find a great deal of support, encouragement and learn ways to cope without losing your own sanity.
Stay strong. There is a way out and we'll help you all we can to find it.
Peace
Greenlydia