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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What do I do when my son lies on his bed with his eyes shut for hours.

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    Depression Mental Health
    He is in his 50's and is being treated by both a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist for several years and diagnosed with severe depression and a disassociate personality. Last year he was lost for several days he was found and placed in my care,I am 79. I have had great support from Graeme Cowan author of Beyond the Brink, my genuinely caring GP, Lifeflow Meditation Org. and read everything I could about Mental Illness I have been able to bring him thru from being “lost” this time last year to Nov when he seemed happier joining a walking group . He was gaining confidence until incidents in December. He decided to become a CFS volunteer but his brother and sister in law convinced him he was not a responsible person. At that time he was refused a medical certificate to resume his Scuba diving licence and told he was not mentally stable to travel alone. Now he just lies on his bed his eyes shut for hours and hours every day. He is losing concentration and rarely speaks. What do I do now?
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    Vivienne Colegrove

    Counsellor

    I have been working in Eltham, Melbourne as a relationship and family counsellor for over twelve years. I draw on current theory and research about … View Profile

    In addition to the many excellent suggestions made by others, I'd encourage you to get some counselling support for yourself, where a counsellor can help you work on strategies to assist your son's recovery as well as look after yourself through the process. Carers Australia fund up to six sessions for family members of people with an illness or disability (including mental illness); their phone number is 1800 242 636 or you can go to their website and have a look at http://www.carersaustralia.com.au

    I also would encourage you to read the excellent work of Patricia Deagan, a women who has lived with serious mental illness all her life and now lectures around the world about how family, friends and professionals can assist a person's recovery from mental illness. The following article may be of interest http://www.mhcsn.org/education/recovery/schizophrenia

    Many family carers I have worked with over the years have found her work to be very inspiring and practically helpful.

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