Son and depression

Good to hear from you Flower, though I'm sorry to hear about your son. As pompa said, he's doing all the right things and its good he's been able to talk to you about it. Has he seen his GP. I know people have different views about anti depressants, but they can help imo. Sending very best wishes

Oh flower I'd wondered where you'd gone. I missed you. I'm sorry your son is suffering. It's hard seeing our children suffer. I wish him a speedy recovery and of course I hope your keeping well.

It's good that he's bothering to groom himself and go for a daily walk. It shows he's still able to motivate himself somewhat.

I am far happier communicating on the internet than in real life. It helps to keep contact with others when you really want to isolate yourself. I also use games to lose myself in.

Flower have you seen the cartoon of Black Dog on Youtube?
Another possibly helpful book is Managing depression with CBT for DUMMIES.
It's so hard isn't it?

My heart goes out to him - and to you. It is so very hard to support someone through this sort of illness. You can only be there for him. Help is needed from the medical profession. He could make an appointment with his GP which might move things forward quicker than waiting for a phone call via the NHS website.

Sufferers do not think that they will get better in time and that is part of the problem.

Try Ruby Wax's book: Sane New World.

As someone who had a breakdown when I was fifty, I can speak with some experience.
Having an understanding employer is a great help.Your Son has done and is doing all the right things. Admitting to himself that he needs help is the first step to recovery. There are excellent support services via your doctor and NHS. I did find that there was a long wait for NHS counselling in my area and went to a private councillor at first. Councillors seem a waste of time at first, just chatting and asking unrelated questions, but it helped me no end.
Be prepared for a long haul, took me 6 months to get back to work.
As far as your reactions, you seem to be getting it right, gentle support try to accept the low moods as part of the depression that just have to pass of their own accord. Try to talk to others that have suffered from depression to get to understand how he feels.
Medication, your Dr, may recommend medication, lots of for and againsts discussed online, trust your Dr.
I have been on medication for 20 years, keeps me on a level keel most of the time and does not have any significant side effects.
From your post, I'm sure you will all get through this soon.
If I can help, PM me.

Flower it's horrid to see someone you love like that, but it seems to me (as a fellow sufferer) that he is doing all the right things, especially with regard to going for a walk. (More than I'm currently doing ). I do the online chat sort of thing too, hence this post, but am not so good currently with regard to actual phone calls.

There are things I could add, but would rather not post publicly, if you want to PM me, please feel free.