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Question: my husband is a heavy beer drinker and has been become increasingly critical of family and friends over the last few years. He finds no pleasure in most of the activities he used to do including golf and other activities. He has become very controlling and criticizes my activities. He is 63 years old and has been retired for 7 years. He finds fault in most of my family members and will no longer attend family functions and is now finding fault with friends we have had for years and no longer wants to associate with them. Currently he only will approve on one male friend and our daughter and 4 children. I am concerned that he is experiencing depression or a result of his long term drinking. He drinks 12 beers every day and has for 30+ years. Is this depression, alcohol or just growing older and irritable.
Brief Answer:
Depression it is
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
From what you have stated it is quite clear that he is having a depressive episode. Depression can occur with regular stress and it can also occur biologically without any stress as well. He will need proper treatment for the same. There are various effective therapies for depression like fluoxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, mirtazapine or escitalopram and they are all very effective and mostly safe. He may also require some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or lorazepam for a short period like 2-3 weeks to reduce the anxiety and help with his sleep.
If he is averse to the drug therapies then there is also an option of cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy is taken by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist in which the therapist identifies impaired cognitions (Thoughts) and try to correct them. They are 15-20 min weekly session and there should be around 8-10 sessions to help him with his illness.
Also he needs to cut down his alcohol as alcohol with hinder the treatment of depression. You may suggest suggest some psychological counselluing or consider a de-addaiction program for him. But both alcohol dependance and depression needs to be treated together.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Depression it is
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
From what you have stated it is quite clear that he is having a depressive episode. Depression can occur with regular stress and it can also occur biologically without any stress as well. He will need proper treatment for the same. There are various effective therapies for depression like fluoxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, mirtazapine or escitalopram and they are all very effective and mostly safe. He may also require some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or lorazepam for a short period like 2-3 weeks to reduce the anxiety and help with his sleep.
If he is averse to the drug therapies then there is also an option of cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy is taken by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist in which the therapist identifies impaired cognitions (Thoughts) and try to correct them. They are 15-20 min weekly session and there should be around 8-10 sessions to help him with his illness.
Also he needs to cut down his alcohol as alcohol with hinder the treatment of depression. You may suggest suggest some psychological counselluing or consider a de-addaiction program for him. But both alcohol dependance and depression needs to be treated together.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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