Navigating Depression with Mindfulness
October 2024 Issue
Inspirations for Better Living
I love everything about fall. Cooler temperatures, autumn colors, soup weather, and football Sundays. I felt relaxed sitting in the corner of my sofa sectional with my husband lounging nearby and our calico cat stretched out in between us. The football announcers speculated on how the referees were going to rule on the latest red flag challenge when my phone rang. Mom’s friend Ida came up on the caller ID and I went from relaxed to tense in about one second. Ida’s never called me before. This couldn’t be good.
I answered and Ida said, “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m worried about your mom. She’s talking about crying herself to sleep at night. The other day when some of us were gathered on her porch, she told us she isn’t happy.”
“She’s told me that, too.” I confess to Ida.
“I go over and see her almost every day, but I’m not there at night. It’s gotten worse since she stopped driving and sold her car. She said you’re taking her to a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Could you talk to her doctor about her depression? I don’t mean to be a busy body, but there are things they can do, medication she could take.”
“She’s taking an antidepressant already, but maybe we need to change the dosage or try a different medicine. You’re not a busy body. I appreciate you looking out for her and letting me know when you see a problem.” Parent child role reversal was easier with help from a friend.
The next day, before Mom and I drove to her doctor’s appointment, I talked to her about Ida’s phone call. She was expecting the conversation. “We can talk to your doctor about changing your medicine, but I wanted to ask you about a different approach. You’re a bit of a fall risk and medicines often have the side effect of drowsiness, so what about a non-medicine treatment? What do you think about the idea of talking to a psychiatrist?”
