Posted 8/7/2014 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
I post several days ago about my MIL and her responsibilities for her actions during her mania, thank you for the reply :)
MIL has come off a two month mania. She is depressed and sliding fast. FIL has finally started to come to his senses and was proactive enough to get an appointment with her pdoc today. Hopefully he is honest about her mania and she finally gets the proper meds and help she needs.
This is her fourth depressed episode in less than a year. The others have been pretty brutal. What DH and I don't know is how to support her while depressed.
Initially she can put on a smile and sit quietly if we are with her. When she degrades she gets wildly fidgety and can't form a complete sentence or action. We don't know if it is best to continue to try and engage her talking and getting out and about or to just leave her be and not force her to interact when it is obvious it is uncomfortable and stressful for her.
We don't want to stress her too much but we simply don't know *how* to give her what she needs. She can't tell us and we're just guessing.
Also a bit freaked out because FIL is dropping hints about going away. We've recommended he seek help too, which he seemed open to. DH, his sister, her DH and I are terrified about FIL actually leaving. None if us are going to be able to care for MIL without massive strain our own lives. With her denying she has a problem we've all already pulled back for our own sanity.
Scared.
Any help or tips on what helps *you* from your loved ones when depression hits is most welcome.