Depression presenting as dementia
My brother was in a facility for 2 weeks for thoughts of suicide. Was put on meds. They discharged him and he’s not doing well. Doesn’t talk at outpatient. Sister in law Said he acts like a drunk baby. Shuffles around, doesn’t talk or articulate any thoughts. It was suggested that he have a SPECT scan. Anyone have any experience with this?
SPECT is worrh doing, and doing quickly
Don’t be surprised if The person I’m calling him a baby is it a big part of why he is depressed. A man who doesnt feel like he can leave a condescending relationship will get deeply depressed. I have seen them several heartbreaking instances of that scenario amongst people that I know well. Ask him honestly if he is respected at home when your sister-in-law is not around. And watch his body language as he replies. Ask him if he is respected at work. Tell him a couple of things that you respect or admire about him To start the conversation. Man shut down when their best efforts still earn them no respect and they don’t see any path to being able to change that.
Do the scan, but thing you can do for him It’s to make a gigantic wall poster that says “To a great man, Roger. we love you!” instead of saying “get well soon”, and then have every person that has ever known him since childhood that would have something good to say about him write one sentence on the card about something that they respect or admire or love about him and sign their name. Frame it And wrap it up and present it to him and don’t ask your sister-in-law‘s opinion of it. Your brother is in deep trouble and he is counting on you to have some insight about the obvious, And that is that he wasn’t clinically depressed Before the relationship that he is currently in, And now that he spends A lot of time every day with your sister-in-law, Now he is clinically depressed. Do the math:
And keep in mind that it is shameful for a man to open up. The last thing that he’s going to do is open up to a woman who calls him a baby.
I’m very sorry that I’m rellying with a blunt tone, And it may seem like I am being unfair to your sister-in-law. But I have seen this scenario play out personally in lives of several men who were very close friends or family of mine. I just lost a very close childhood friend to siucide this last week and we are all completely devastated.
And the heartbreaking lesson I have learned Over and over Is That men die slowly when they are disrespected, and they die quickly when they are disrespected at home.
Please make that poster for his wall that he can look at every day, And if you are the only person you know who would say something positive about him, then Write five or more sentences about different things that you respect about him that you admire about him, Even small things. That way, if Your sister-in-law Is accidentally crushing his spirit He can look up at the poster and be reminded that that is just her opinion , And that He has earned respect from other people , And he can not let her words Push him to giving up.