Susie in SWVA Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 My dh fell on ice last Thursday and broke his wrist and fractured his pelvis. He is a very social person (unlike me) and his job is such that he spends a lot of time with and talking to people. He is going to be laid up up to six weeks, although he is moving around some, The problem - he is going crazy and is getting himself depressed. He has trouble with depression in the winter anyway, but can usually keep it under control. My question - what can I do to keep him busy and happy and pleasant? This is really disrupting our school day. TIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Χά�ων Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Honestly, ask about medication to treat the depression. The sudden change in situation mixed with an injury and the feelings of helplessness can cause a depression to worsen. As for the school day, I would look at going to the library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Can he Skype some friends. when can some friends come to visit? What sport is he interested in. When's the next big game? Plan on having friends in to watch it with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Can he get involved with homeschooling? Spend more time with the kids, bond, be there for some fun projects, get involved in discussions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Can he work from home at all? Maintain some of his professional life? This would make him feel useful and part of things and give him a focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 My DH is home for 3-5 months with an injury. I feel your pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in SWVA Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Thank you for the suggestions. Dh sees the doctor on Friday, so I think we will talk about meds for depression. He is already on some, but maybe they can switch it up a bit, temporarily. Skype is a good idea. As far as sports go, he doesn't follow them. He is more of an individual sports person (bicycling, swimming, running, tai chi). The Olympics is coming just at the right time! He can't work from home - he is a nurse anesthetist, chief as a matter of fact. As far as school, the library might be a good idea and I would love for my dh to get more involved in school. I have homeschooled for around 25 years and he never has, but maybe I can push a bit. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 could he do a mini-anatomy course with your dc? something that is his rather than helping with what you usually do? it could be some fun time with the kids... hth, ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Just commiserating, we slowed down school when dh was home for a long stretch. Not ideal, but it was hard to school with him home and now well for so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Seasonal depression can be complicated, but the strength and spectrum of the light he is exposed to might be one factor. If you think that's likely, try: - Open his curtains wide, daily. - Use mirrors to direct or redirect natural light in his general direction. - Exactly how stationary is he? Maybe move him from place to place around the house if possible. Try to find an outdoor location that is workable (lounge chair on a porch?) - At pet stores they sell full-spectrum "grow lights" that are fluorescent, but fit a regular light socket. This is a good type of light to have around all winter, but it might be particularly useful to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 could he do a mini-anatomy course with your dc? something that is his rather than helping with what you usually do? it could be some fun time with the kids... hth, ann That's what I thought too--that he could do something unique to him. Even if play board games and chess. Despite the injury this could be a special time for the kids when Daddy is home. If it were me, I'd slow down homeschooling and focus on what we could do as a family to make the best out of a difficult time. What about watching more documentaries and discussing them? Researching topics that you normally wouldn't? Having an intellectual adventure or a virtual trip around the world via documentaries, Google Earth, ethnic foods and discussing everything--politics, culture, geography, folklore and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in SWVA Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 Thanks for all the ideas! What would I do without y'all? I am also going to invite friends over for dinner a few evenings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 could he do a mini-anatomy course with your dc? something that is his rather than helping with what you usually do? it could be some fun time with the kids... hth, ann This is a great idea! Whatever it is, it should be something that is totally *his* - that way you will not be tempted to express any opinions about how he is doing it/not doing it/etc...... Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 sorry triple post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 sorry about the mulitple posts. COmputer is acting up today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 So sorry about your DH accident. We were in this postion a few years ago. We carried on with school in a room he could hear us and comment if he felt the need to. :laugh: He was not up to doing any schooling himself, but i did cut back a bit on my son's schedules and they spent quite a bit of time playing chinese checkers with their Dad. I had a comfy chair in the bedroom which invited lots of conversation time when he was up to it. Reading a novel outloud would have been something they might have enjoyed had I thought of it at the time! Defintately take the initiative and invite folks over to visit with him. Many friends just didn't know when the right time was and I think they would have come over more had I called them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Is there any additional training he would like to do? Could he be studying up on his career path, etc. Some course he'd love to take online. He could be an additional student for you, instead of a patient. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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