QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
My husband has been experiencing what he claims to be feelings of unhappiness for over three years. He feels that he has no control of his life, yet he is the one who makes all the decisions and has full control. He lost all emotions towards me, except animosity. He feels it is easier to place the blame on me for all his unhappiness. But he feels that if he leaves me and our 2 year old daughter (who he is now crazy about), he would probably be making a mistake. He went to a psychologist twice, didn't like what they had to say (which he wouldn't tell me). As a result, he keeps his own money in a separate account and has very little interaction. He does function at work, but has been known to explode at staff on occasion and act inappropriately. All three of his sisters are on some form of antidepressant, plus his first cousin is bipolar. He has agreed to go to counseling to try and find himself. I am afraid that he really should see an M.D. because he may fit a DSM-III profile for depressive disorder and may benefit from pharmacological therapy. Am I right?
ANSWER:
If these symptoms were not at all present until 3 years ago a simple major depressive
disorder is the likely explanation. This
picture of the depressed and recovered
brain
could help him recognize that depression is a brain disorder..
If these symptoms have been present throughout his life and are now worsened, I recommend
doing the
screening test. Treating all the diagnoses is
necessary for full function.
Whether he's just depressed or has the diagnoses in the screening test, he needs to
be treated medically.
