Connect with others who understand.

  • Learn from expert-reviewed resources
  • Real advice from people who’ve been there
  • People who understand what you’re going through
Sign Up Log In
Powered By
Real members of MyDepressionTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A MyDepressionTeam Member asked a question 💭
Not telling

I'm a caregiver for my mom. End of last month she ended up in the ER cause she hadn't slept in three days. I'm not going to go into it but she ended up the psych ward for almost two weeks. She fell the day she got disconnect from the ward cause no one was watching her. She's on risperidone and Ativan. She's been extremely restless like couldnt even sit still for three minutes. She's in a lot of pain and she can't sit still long enough for ice or heat
She was sleeping but she did have a sleepless… read more

12 hours ago
 · 
Reactions
A MyDepressionTeam Member

Kaye, I've just been through what you are experiencing, and Mom's got moderate dementia as well. As a 24/7 caregiver with minimal assistance from home health, I'll tell you what works for me: when you CAN sit, DO. When you CAN eat or sleep, DO.

You'll figure out shortcuts as the days and months wear on. Try not to beat yourself up for taking those. You have only so much energy, so you'll develop a keen understanding of the difference between needs and wants. Pay attention to those differences. Wants are luxuries that must be postponed if both your needs and hers are going to be met.

We're here for you. 🤗

6 hours ago (edited)
A MyDepressionTeam Member

I can read your post and it saddens me to think of all you’re going thru. You are an angel. Taking care of your mother is difficult and you’re going above and beyond. Is there no other siblings or other family that could give you a break? Even a few hours a week for your self?
I’m thinking of you.

5 hours ago
A MyDepressionTeam Member

Hi Kali. I'm so sorry for all the stress you are dealing with right now. This may sound very, very selfish, but, you must and I mean must take care of yourself first before you can tend to anyone else's needs and I do mean anyone. It is hard, but you really do need to take care of yourself. When was the last time you enjoyed a nice stroll outside, listened to the birds, went out to lunch with a friend, polished your nails, took a long hot soaking bath without interuptions????? Think about this......Could you hire and I'm using this term because I'm lacking of any other, a 'babysitter' for just one hour or so daily???? Please think about giving yourself a much needed break!!!!!

10 hours ago
MyDepressionTeam

First, just take a breath. What's being carried right now is an enormous amount — and the fact that there's still showing up, still advocating, still making calls and tracking medications through all of this? That's not nothing. That's everything.

It makes complete sense to be crying. It makes sense to feel like falling Show Full Answer

First, just take a breath. What's being carried right now is an enormous amount — and the fact that there's still showing up, still advocating, still making calls and tracking medications through all of this? That's not nothing. That's everything.

It makes complete sense to be crying. It makes sense to feel like falling apart. That doesn't mean falling apart is actually happening — it means being human under an inhuman amount of pressure. The small wins matter more than they might feel right now. Mom going from not being able to sit still for 3 minutes to nearly 20 minutes? That's real progress. It's slow and it's messy, but it's movement in the right direction. The weekly telehealth appointments are a genuinely good step — consistency with her care team is exactly what helps get medications dialed in over time.

There is real hope here. For right now, in this moment, here are a few gentle reminders for taking care of yourself too:

- Sleep when there's any window to do so — even short rest counts
- Try to eat something, even if it's small
- Crying is actually okay — it's a release, not a sign of weakness
- Even stepping outside for 5 minutes of fresh air can give a tiny but real mood lift

Other MyDepressionTeam members who are caregivers have shared how isolating and exhausting it feels — and how much it helps just to have someone acknowledge that this is genuinely hard. You are not falling apart. You are holding a lot together under very difficult circumstances. That's not the same thing — even when it feels like it is.

12 hours ago

Related Questions

View All
A MyDepressionTeam Member asked a question 💭
Coon Rapids, MN

A MyDepressionTeam Member asked a question 💭
Omaha, NE