Anyone who has dealt with depression?

[maelstrom]

Hi,
This is kind of a hard topic I guess, but I really could use some advice. My husband has CF and has had depression throughout much of his life. Luckily the worse periods of depression have been somewhat infrequent, but there was a really bad period last summer. I think it may be starting up again, and I'm worried about him. He has been really resistant to the idea of getting therapy, but I tried encouraging him to consider it when it was getting really bad. He actually did make the effort to contact the nurse coordinator at his CF center and ask for recommendations. She did not respond to his emails at all.

This lack of response is somewhat frustrating. It is really hard for him to ask for help, and the fact that he made the effort means that this has gotten quite serious and he really could use it. I have gone to a therapist to whom I was recommended through my school's counseling services, and she gave me another name to pass on to my husband. But, this therapist is not covered by our insurance at all. We have pretty good insurance, too, through my husband's work.

I get so angry when I think about how the insurance companies will cover antidepressant medications with no questions asked, but refuse to cover therapy sessions, which have been proven in studies to be as effective or more so than medication. My husband was prescribed an antidepressant and has been taking it, but I don't think it is helping him solve the actual problem of his depression, just somewhat suppressing it.

I am feeling really frustrated right now with not knowing what to do or how to help my husband. For anyone who has sought out therapy due to depression related to your CF struggles, how did you find a therapist? Did you specifically seek someone who has experience working with patients who have chronic illnesses? Was your CF center willing to help set you up with someone? And how did your insurance policies work out as far as coverage of therapy sessions?

Thanks for any advice! I realize this topic might be really personal and you might not want to discuss it... but any insights offered would be greatly appreciated.

 

[maelstrom]

Hi,
This is kind of a hard topic I guess, but I really could use some advice. My husband has CF and has had depression throughout much of his life. Luckily the worse periods of depression have been somewhat infrequent, but there was a really bad period last summer. I think it may be starting up again, and I'm worried about him. He has been really resistant to the idea of getting therapy, but I tried encouraging him to consider it when it was getting really bad. He actually did make the effort to contact the nurse coordinator at his CF center and ask for recommendations. She did not respond to his emails at all.

This lack of response is somewhat frustrating. It is really hard for him to ask for help, and the fact that he made the effort means that this has gotten quite serious and he really could use it. I have gone to a therapist to whom I was recommended through my school's counseling services, and she gave me another name to pass on to my husband. But, this therapist is not covered by our insurance at all. We have pretty good insurance, too, through my husband's work.

I get so angry when I think about how the insurance companies will cover antidepressant medications with no questions asked, but refuse to cover therapy sessions, which have been proven in studies to be as effective or more so than medication. My husband was prescribed an antidepressant and has been taking it, but I don't think it is helping him solve the actual problem of his depression, just somewhat suppressing it.

I am feeling really frustrated right now with not knowing what to do or how to help my husband. For anyone who has sought out therapy due to depression related to your CF struggles, how did you find a therapist? Did you specifically seek someone who has experience working with patients who have chronic illnesses? Was your CF center willing to help set you up with someone? And how did your insurance policies work out as far as coverage of therapy sessions?

Thanks for any advice! I realize this topic might be really personal and you might not want to discuss it... but any insights offered would be greatly appreciated.

 

[maelstrom]

Hi,
This is kind of a hard topic I guess, but I really could use some advice. My husband has CF and has had depression throughout much of his life. Luckily the worse periods of depression have been somewhat infrequent, but there was a really bad period last summer. I think it may be starting up again, and I'm worried about him. He has been really resistant to the idea of getting therapy, but I tried encouraging him to consider it when it was getting really bad. He actually did make the effort to contact the nurse coordinator at his CF center and ask for recommendations. She did not respond to his emails at all.

This lack of response is somewhat frustrating. It is really hard for him to ask for help, and the fact that he made the effort means that this has gotten quite serious and he really could use it. I have gone to a therapist to whom I was recommended through my school's counseling services, and she gave me another name to pass on to my husband. But, this therapist is not covered by our insurance at all. We have pretty good insurance, too, through my husband's work.

I get so angry when I think about how the insurance companies will cover antidepressant medications with no questions asked, but refuse to cover therapy sessions, which have been proven in studies to be as effective or more so than medication. My husband was prescribed an antidepressant and has been taking it, but I don't think it is helping him solve the actual problem of his depression, just somewhat suppressing it.

I am feeling really frustrated right now with not knowing what to do or how to help my husband. For anyone who has sought out therapy due to depression related to your CF struggles, how did you find a therapist? Did you specifically seek someone who has experience working with patients who have chronic illnesses? Was your CF center willing to help set you up with someone? And how did your insurance policies work out as far as coverage of therapy sessions?

Thanks for any advice! I realize this topic might be really personal and you might not want to discuss it... but any insights offered would be greatly appreciated.

 

[maelstrom]

Hi,
This is kind of a hard topic I guess, but I really could use some advice. My husband has CF and has had depression throughout much of his life. Luckily the worse periods of depression have been somewhat infrequent, but there was a really bad period last summer. I think it may be starting up again, and I'm worried about him. He has been really resistant to the idea of getting therapy, but I tried encouraging him to consider it when it was getting really bad. He actually did make the effort to contact the nurse coordinator at his CF center and ask for recommendations. She did not respond to his emails at all.

This lack of response is somewhat frustrating. It is really hard for him to ask for help, and the fact that he made the effort means that this has gotten quite serious and he really could use it. I have gone to a therapist to whom I was recommended through my school's counseling services, and she gave me another name to pass on to my husband. But, this therapist is not covered by our insurance at all. We have pretty good insurance, too, through my husband's work.

I get so angry when I think about how the insurance companies will cover antidepressant medications with no questions asked, but refuse to cover therapy sessions, which have been proven in studies to be as effective or more so than medication. My husband was prescribed an antidepressant and has been taking it, but I don't think it is helping him solve the actual problem of his depression, just somewhat suppressing it.

I am feeling really frustrated right now with not knowing what to do or how to help my husband. For anyone who has sought out therapy due to depression related to your CF struggles, how did you find a therapist? Did you specifically seek someone who has experience working with patients who have chronic illnesses? Was your CF center willing to help set you up with someone? And how did your insurance policies work out as far as coverage of therapy sessions?

Thanks for any advice! I realize this topic might be really personal and you might not want to discuss it... but any insights offered would be greatly appreciated.

 

[maelstrom]

Hi,
This is kind of a hard topic I guess, but I really could use some advice. My husband has CF and has had depression throughout much of his life. Luckily the worse periods of depression have been somewhat infrequent, but there was a really bad period last summer. I think it may be starting up again, and I'm worried about him. He has been really resistant to the idea of getting therapy, but I tried encouraging him to consider it when it was getting really bad. He actually did make the effort to contact the nurse coordinator at his CF center and ask for recommendations. She did not respond to his emails at all.

This lack of response is somewhat frustrating. It is really hard for him to ask for help, and the fact that he made the effort means that this has gotten quite serious and he really could use it. I have gone to a therapist to whom I was recommended through my school's counseling services, and she gave me another name to pass on to my husband. But, this therapist is not covered by our insurance at all. We have pretty good insurance, too, through my husband's work.

I get so angry when I think about how the insurance companies will cover antidepressant medications with no questions asked, but refuse to cover therapy sessions, which have been proven in studies to be as effective or more so than medication. My husband was prescribed an antidepressant and has been taking it, but I don't think it is helping him solve the actual problem of his depression, just somewhat suppressing it.

I am feeling really frustrated right now with not knowing what to do or how to help my husband. For anyone who has sought out therapy due to depression related to your CF struggles, how did you find a therapist? Did you specifically seek someone who has experience working with patients who have chronic illnesses? Was your CF center willing to help set you up with someone? And how did your insurance policies work out as far as coverage of therapy sessions?

Thanks for any advice! I realize this topic might be really personal and you might not want to discuss it... but any insights offered would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LisaV]

I've been where you are and it is a tough one and no fun.

Although I usually recommend keeping out of a loved one's way as far as managing an illness is concerned, the situation you describe is somewhat different.
If, as he says, he asked for a referral and/or recommendations but didn't get one, then it seems to me that you could call and follow up on that.

The other thing is that you could call whoever is prescribing his antidepressents and express your concerns. Has your husband asked that person to recommend a "talk" therapist?


And another approach is to ask him to go to couples therapy with you so you'll know better how to support him in his moods and such. Then possibly the couples therapist would recommend someone for him (the often like folks to be seeing 3 therapists: hers, his, and ours)

And, yes, I do think he'll need to see someone who has experience working with someone with a chronic illness.

Another thought, it might not be so much that he is experiencing a biochemicaldepression as that he is mourning real losses -- things that CF has taken from him. IME antidepressents don't stop me from mourning they can only take the edge off (as you describe), I still felt real sad and was hardly my bubbly self.

Good luck with this one.

 

[LisaV]

I've been where you are and it is a tough one and no fun.

Although I usually recommend keeping out of a loved one's way as far as managing an illness is concerned, the situation you describe is somewhat different.
If, as he says, he asked for a referral and/or recommendations but didn't get one, then it seems to me that you could call and follow up on that.

The other thing is that you could call whoever is prescribing his antidepressents and express your concerns. Has your husband asked that person to recommend a "talk" therapist?


And another approach is to ask him to go to couples therapy with you so you'll know better how to support him in his moods and such. Then possibly the couples therapist would recommend someone for him (the often like folks to be seeing 3 therapists: hers, his, and ours)

And, yes, I do think he'll need to see someone who has experience working with someone with a chronic illness.

Another thought, it might not be so much that he is experiencing a biochemicaldepression as that he is mourning real losses -- things that CF has taken from him. IME antidepressents don't stop me from mourning they can only take the edge off (as you describe), I still felt real sad and was hardly my bubbly self.

Good luck with this one.

 

[LisaV]

I've been where you are and it is a tough one and no fun.

Although I usually recommend keeping out of a loved one's way as far as managing an illness is concerned, the situation you describe is somewhat different.
If, as he says, he asked for a referral and/or recommendations but didn't get one, then it seems to me that you could call and follow up on that.

The other thing is that you could call whoever is prescribing his antidepressents and express your concerns. Has your husband asked that person to recommend a "talk" therapist?


And another approach is to ask him to go to couples therapy with you so you'll know better how to support him in his moods and such. Then possibly the couples therapist would recommend someone for him (the often like folks to be seeing 3 therapists: hers, his, and ours)

And, yes, I do think he'll need to see someone who has experience working with someone with a chronic illness.

Another thought, it might not be so much that he is experiencing a biochemicaldepression as that he is mourning real losses -- things that CF has taken from him. IME antidepressents don't stop me from mourning they can only take the edge off (as you describe), I still felt real sad and was hardly my bubbly self.

Good luck with this one.

 

[LisaV]

I've been where you are and it is a tough one and no fun.

Although I usually recommend keeping out of a loved one's way as far as managing an illness is concerned, the situation you describe is somewhat different.
If, as he says, he asked for a referral and/or recommendations but didn't get one, then it seems to me that you could call and follow up on that.

The other thing is that you could call whoever is prescribing his antidepressents and express your concerns. Has your husband asked that person to recommend a "talk" therapist?


And another approach is to ask him to go to couples therapy with you so you'll know better how to support him in his moods and such. Then possibly the couples therapist would recommend someone for him (the often like folks to be seeing 3 therapists: hers, his, and ours)

And, yes, I do think he'll need to see someone who has experience working with someone with a chronic illness.

Another thought, it might not be so much that he is experiencing a biochemicaldepression as that he is mourning real losses -- things that CF has taken from him. IME antidepressents don't stop me from mourning they can only take the edge off (as you describe), I still felt real sad and was hardly my bubbly self.

Good luck with this one.

 

[LisaV]

I've been where you are and it is a tough one and no fun.

Although I usually recommend keeping out of a loved one's way as far as managing an illness is concerned, the situation you describe is somewhat different.
If, as he says, he asked for a referral and/or recommendations but didn't get one, then it seems to me that you could call and follow up on that.

The other thing is that you could call whoever is prescribing his antidepressents and express your concerns. Has your husband asked that person to recommend a "talk" therapist?


And another approach is to ask him to go to couples therapy with you so you'll know better how to support him in his moods and such. Then possibly the couples therapist would recommend someone for him (the often like folks to be seeing 3 therapists: hers, his, and ours)

And, yes, I do think he'll need to see someone who has experience working with someone with a chronic illness.

Another thought, it might not be so much that he is experiencing a biochemicaldepression as that he is mourning real losses -- things that CF has taken from him. IME antidepressents don't stop me from mourning they can only take the edge off (as you describe), I still felt real sad and was hardly my bubbly self.

Good luck with this one.

 

[barbc888]

Hi maelstrom,

Sorry, I have no insight for you, but just wanted to mention I've been dealing with the same things you mention with the same questions. My CF center social worker is of no help, really. She just gives me names of people and says call this person, or call that person. She did have someone who dealt with chronic illnesses, but that person did not accept my health insurance. I hope others can help you, because it would help me too!

Haven't seen you on this site before... if you're a new member, welcome!

 

[barbc888]

Hi maelstrom,

Sorry, I have no insight for you, but just wanted to mention I've been dealing with the same things you mention with the same questions. My CF center social worker is of no help, really. She just gives me names of people and says call this person, or call that person. She did have someone who dealt with chronic illnesses, but that person did not accept my health insurance. I hope others can help you, because it would help me too!

Haven't seen you on this site before... if you're a new member, welcome!

 

[barbc888]

Hi maelstrom,

Sorry, I have no insight for you, but just wanted to mention I've been dealing with the same things you mention with the same questions. My CF center social worker is of no help, really. She just gives me names of people and says call this person, or call that person. She did have someone who dealt with chronic illnesses, but that person did not accept my health insurance. I hope others can help you, because it would help me too!

Haven't seen you on this site before... if you're a new member, welcome!

 

[barbc888]

Hi maelstrom,

Sorry, I have no insight for you, but just wanted to mention I've been dealing with the same things you mention with the same questions. My CF center social worker is of no help, really. She just gives me names of people and says call this person, or call that person. She did have someone who dealt with chronic illnesses, but that person did not accept my health insurance. I hope others can help you, because it would help me too!

Haven't seen you on this site before... if you're a new member, welcome!

 

[barbc888]

Hi maelstrom,

Sorry, I have no insight for you, but just wanted to mention I've been dealing with the same things you mention with the same questions. My CF center social worker is of no help, really. She just gives me names of people and says call this person, or call that person. She did have someone who dealt with chronic illnesses, but that person did not accept my health insurance. I hope others can help you, because it would help me too!

Haven't seen you on this site before... if you're a new member, welcome!

 

[welshwitch]

Hi!

I actually wrote about my experience w/ therapy in my blog. I thought it would be a "lifelong commitment" but it ended up being just three sessions before I "saw the light!"

Anyways, my CF center hooked me up with a counselor...she's not the type who can prescribe meds, but she definitely gave me a "toolbox" on how to deal with having CF.

She was definitely experienced w/ chronic illness. She gave me lots of techniques on what to do when I started the negative thought pattern. Most of all, she gave me reasons that I should have an amazing and fulfilling life despite having a chronic illness.

This was all happening as I was slowly starting to really research CF and grasp all the negative statistics and stories...it was becoming too much for me to deal with.

Therapy was just a way to troubleshoot some of my fears (some which were warranted, some which were COMPLTELY BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION!!!)

hope this helps.

 

[welshwitch]

Hi!

I actually wrote about my experience w/ therapy in my blog. I thought it would be a "lifelong commitment" but it ended up being just three sessions before I "saw the light!"

Anyways, my CF center hooked me up with a counselor...she's not the type who can prescribe meds, but she definitely gave me a "toolbox" on how to deal with having CF.

She was definitely experienced w/ chronic illness. She gave me lots of techniques on what to do when I started the negative thought pattern. Most of all, she gave me reasons that I should have an amazing and fulfilling life despite having a chronic illness.

This was all happening as I was slowly starting to really research CF and grasp all the negative statistics and stories...it was becoming too much for me to deal with.

Therapy was just a way to troubleshoot some of my fears (some which were warranted, some which were COMPLTELY BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION!!!)

hope this helps.

 

[welshwitch]

Hi!

I actually wrote about my experience w/ therapy in my blog. I thought it would be a "lifelong commitment" but it ended up being just three sessions before I "saw the light!"

Anyways, my CF center hooked me up with a counselor...she's not the type who can prescribe meds, but she definitely gave me a "toolbox" on how to deal with having CF.

She was definitely experienced w/ chronic illness. She gave me lots of techniques on what to do when I started the negative thought pattern. Most of all, she gave me reasons that I should have an amazing and fulfilling life despite having a chronic illness.

This was all happening as I was slowly starting to really research CF and grasp all the negative statistics and stories...it was becoming too much for me to deal with.

Therapy was just a way to troubleshoot some of my fears (some which were warranted, some which were COMPLTELY BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION!!!)

hope this helps.

 

[welshwitch]

Hi!

I actually wrote about my experience w/ therapy in my blog. I thought it would be a "lifelong commitment" but it ended up being just three sessions before I "saw the light!"

Anyways, my CF center hooked me up with a counselor...she's not the type who can prescribe meds, but she definitely gave me a "toolbox" on how to deal with having CF.

She was definitely experienced w/ chronic illness. She gave me lots of techniques on what to do when I started the negative thought pattern. Most of all, she gave me reasons that I should have an amazing and fulfilling life despite having a chronic illness.

This was all happening as I was slowly starting to really research CF and grasp all the negative statistics and stories...it was becoming too much for me to deal with.

Therapy was just a way to troubleshoot some of my fears (some which were warranted, some which were COMPLTELY BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION!!!)

hope this helps.

 

[welshwitch]

Hi!

I actually wrote about my experience w/ therapy in my blog. I thought it would be a "lifelong commitment" but it ended up being just three sessions before I "saw the light!"

Anyways, my CF center hooked me up with a counselor...she's not the type who can prescribe meds, but she definitely gave me a "toolbox" on how to deal with having CF.

She was definitely experienced w/ chronic illness. She gave me lots of techniques on what to do when I started the negative thought pattern. Most of all, she gave me reasons that I should have an amazing and fulfilling life despite having a chronic illness.

This was all happening as I was slowly starting to really research CF and grasp all the negative statistics and stories...it was becoming too much for me to deal with.

Therapy was just a way to troubleshoot some of my fears (some which were warranted, some which were COMPLTELY BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION!!!)

hope this helps.