Karen630

[karen630]

Any suggestions for dealing with the depression that is accompanying our daughter's diagnosis?  I am sure that most go through this, but how long should we wait before we suggest treatment for depression.  I hate to bring this up with 28 year old daughter yet (she was diagnosed this week) as I know it is normal.....but I do worry as she is prone to depression anyway.  

[Amyloo]

I echo Patti66's thoughts exactly.  God bless you, Amy

[Patti66]

Don't wait - get her to a psychiatrist who can determine if she's just down from the diagnosis, or she's clinically depressed.  If it's the latter, she will need meds to get better.  I've been on antidepressants since 1991 and they saved my life.  They aren't the evil drugs the press and others who have never needed them make them out to be.  They are good and they really do save lives.  Good luck to her.

[essdipity]

One thing you can do, which probably you already are doing, is read up on MS yourself. That's a good way of being supportive. Depression can be a primary symptom of MS, caused by physical changes in the brain, and of course it can be secondary. Adjusting to this new status isn't easy. Quite a few members here go through some really rough spots.

My biggest suggestion for you, though, is to persuade your daughter to come here and join in. So many have gone through all of this, and are very glad to help. This would be a great place for her to ask questions and to vent.

ess

[Rena705]

I think that you need to keep a close eye on your daughter in the long term to watch for clues as to whether she is depressed but in the short term it is to be expected.  I was diagnosed the first time in 1993 and the myriad of feelings that went through me were unbelieveable.

I had another MRI last November and just the new confirmation of lesions was rather hard to take.  

At 28 years old I would imagine that your daughter will deal with a lot from anger and confusion to denial and sadness (not to be confused with depression).  I would suggest that you introduce your daughter to your local chapter of the MS Society so that she can speak to other people face to face that have gone through what she is going through now.  Like I said, I was first diagnosed in 1993 and I am still in remission...everyone is different and speaking to people that have been in her position can be very theraputic!

I am sorry that your daughter has been diagnosed with MS but now she has the opportunity to take the disease modifying drugs and hopefully control the disease.

I am wishing you the best of luck and remember that we are also here to talk to 24/7 and there are a lot of very understanding and compassionate people that can relate to both you and your position as her Mother and your daughter who is dealing with this diagnosis.

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[biowham]

She should mention this to her MD right away if it persists. Whether or not depression is "normal" for MS, it's not "normal" in general, and there are things that can be done to alleviate it. It's "normal" to have the blahs for a few days, but a long-term depression is not.

That said, it is totally normal to have this kind of response in the short term. If she was only diagnosed this week, she's got a process she's going through, almost like the stages of grief, because she IS experiencing a loss. She may need to talk or be silent. She may be angry or in denial or starting acceptance. The thing to do for this is be supportive, supply an ear when she needs one, space when she needs it, give her time to think. I'm obviously not your daughter, but were I in her place, one thing I would find irritating would be well-meaning suggestions from people who find books or articles etc. that relate to the diagnosis. She needs time to just process it all first.

Others who have an MS dx will probably be able to tell you a lot more. I'm only speaking from the point-of-view of someone who has dealt with loss and with depression (not mine), not with MS.

E