Psychiatrists?
 

My neighbor has lost her husband, can't sleep, won't eat, very depressed. I believe she needs a psychiatrist. Do we have any good ones in the area??

Please look into grief groups. Churches have them & I believe The Villages has one or more. A psychologist can help as well. Psychiatrist are mainly for medicine or to diagnose a mental problem. There are stages of grief she will go through & probably get stuck in one of two of those stages for a while.
Let her talk about her husband or about memories with him. "Talk therapy" is most of psychologists do.

This might lead to some resources.

Hospice Foundation Of America - Support Groups

Yikes! How does anyone jump straight to Psychiatrist instead of starting with grief counseling after a loss?

Because she NEEDS MEDICATIONS. CAN ANYONE JUST answer question please. Don't we have any mental health in the villages?? She is not a church goer

Also she has done grief counseling already. She is beyond that and Needs some depression type med and anxiety. She has developed fears

I would ask her primary care doctor for a referral. Her primary can prescribe a tranquilizer. Grief is very hard to get through. Thank you for helping her.

This is hard to believe. With all the seniors here who move away from family, suffer losses of spouses, possible problems with he wants to live here, she wants to be up north etc... We have no psychiatrists, psychologists, here?? This needs to change!! I can see her anxiety is beyond my expertise so I was reaching out for Names. Tk u

She also has spoken to her primary who prescribes Zoloft which did absolutely nothing for her. She's been through alot and Really needs a psychiatrist at this point. I have no idea where to look. Have searched for names but hate pulling one out of a hat. So much better when others may have found one to recommend. I am willing to drive her to Ocala or Leesburg if necessary

The first place to begin would probably her primary care physician.

Try this resource-- Crisis Contacts & Links - NAMI Marion County, Inc. - NAMI Marion County, Inc.

Shelter In Place Resources for Seniors | Comfort Keepers

You might also want to try getting her involved in something?

I don't have a specific recommendation, but you can go to "fepblue.org" and search for the psychiatrists in the area. You don't need to have an account to search. Apparently, there are at least 69 psychiatrists within 25 miles of The Villages. That may be a good place to start, and maybe look up their reviews.

From the information about her you posted your friend should see a psychiatrist ASAP as she could be clinically depressed and require psych meds and likely some counseling to carry on with her life. If your friend's physician is unable to give her a referral perhaps your physician might be able to do so.

I used to date a really good psychiatrist but she practices in Newport Beach, CA. My friend told me she once had seen a man who within a three day period suffered three terrible losses and was clinically depressed. He was fired from his job, his mother passed away and his wife left him. She prescribed some psych meds for him and he soon recovered. My friend told me she had been an anesthesiologist and discovered she was "good with the chemicals" so she became a psychiatrist.

Believe me, I'm trying

Hang in there. Caregivers also can feel a lot of stress.

Please remember, the medication she is seeking is for temporary use only. Even though she is not a church going person, I still suggest a free program called "Grief Share", available at many churches. Not only does this program help folks with their personal loss, but the additional benefit is that many times other friendships / relationships are begun there.

Also, I would suggest she seeks some part time volunteer work. Again, sometimes other friendships /relationships are born through the process of helping others.

I lost my wife of 50 years, I speak from experience.

Just trying to help.....

She doesn't need a psychiatrist, she needs grief counseling. And she can get that at Cornerstone Hospice in the Villages near 466

My thoughts…
 

I can understand your frustration. But I would surmise that the majority of seniors here cope with grief and major life changes without using psychiatrists. They can also be expensive.

Your friend does need professional help, though. In her depressive state where she’s not even eating or sleeping, church groups wouldn’t be a good fit. I’d say if you can’t get a good referral, Google psychiatrists nearby. There are a few board certified psychiatrists around. They have the credentials. Good luck and hope she feels better.

Does she have any family?

This thread has made clear that asking a simple medical question on this forum is as useless as asking for investment advice. A lot of jabber from people that have no idea what they are talking about.

Are you a dr? Seems you are coming up with a diagnosis of pumping her with pills. How about she go to her family dr first. Make sure there is no underlying issues and then have her Dr refer her IF necessary. I wouldnt listen to a friend telling me I needed to be inhaling drugs everyday either

The best is to call her insurance group. And yes there are psycs of both specialties here in fruitland park, Tavares, Leesburg

As a psychologist, medication should not be your first option. I lost two husbands to cancer. She needs group therapy with others who have experienced such loss. Medication will only mask her symptoms temporarily and possibly cause her to become addicted to benzodiazepines. I recommend Grief Share. There should be several of them in the area.

Meds right away …. Geez…..

I realize this may not actually help, but I can sympathize with you and your friend. I lost my wife of 46 years over 3 years ago. I went through all the recommendations with minimal or no success starting with my primary care physician and some medication, a church group, and so on. I was able to talk to friends and not a stranger or a group. I learned I did not have to be ashamed to cry in front of people as they cried with me. I learned many people really do mean well, but are not able to truly understand and actually help - you must seek out who is compatible and understanding and avoid those ineffective. After 2 years I found new insight online and with online videos, but again avoiding those who did not seem to be right for me. Some were doctors, ministers, and motivational speakers. The key for me was to seek out and follow those who made sense to me. So much time, money and energy is spent on "grief consoling" instead of "wellness consoling", but your friend has to progress through a couple of stages of grief to understand this. Stay with her, listen, and never mention getting used to the "new normal" that is often spoken of. I found that term very negative. My wife passed from AML and dozens of times I heard "Cancer sucks" & indeed it does. We reach a turning point and it takes as long as it takes but can't be forced. This turning point has to be accepted and will be triggered by whatever or whomever is effective and is not the same for any of us. Prescription meds are a very short term solution. I learned the answer is not booze - believe me I looked in the bottom of many bottles and it isn't there.
Be a listener, a shoulder to cry on, guide her to wellness counseling where she can learn to see positive things and slowly return to a better mental awareness. Willy Nelson has a line in a song that really hit me. "Losing someone is not something we get over. Its something we get through." I feel hearing that one day was the trigger to help me. Yes I still have "bad days" but they are far fewer, and I also learned I still haven't run out of tears after 3+ years. Be there for her, and as I said, it takes as long as it takes.

Therapist
 

Helen Ziecwieck at the Villages Heath Care in Pinellas Park. She worked with me when I was having problems being locked in my home because of Covid. Very sincere and caring.Call Pinellas Park Villages Healthcare for an appointment. We did most of my therapy over the computer because of Covid 19.

My neighbor has lost her husband, can't sleep, won't eat, very depressed. I believe she needs a psychiatrist. Do we have any good ones in the area??[/QUOTE]

Name of psychiatrists
 

I sent you a private message.

I suspect that her primary would be able to refer her to a psychiatrist in the area....

maybe she'll allow you to accompany her to visit her primary...and you'll be able to express your observations too

good luck...sounds like you're a good friend

Unless you are a trained diagnostician.... how can you determine that she needs "medication"? The others are absolutely correct.... what she needs more than anything right now is Grief Support and potentially speaking with a Counsellor. Unless she has a prior "mental health" history that you are aware (or her family) of.... then a Psychiatrist is NOT the answer.... If she lost her Husband and he was under Hospice care she is eligible for a minimum of 1 year follow up grief support. This is my background and expertise so I know what I am talking about. She is lucky to have a neighbor who cares about her to reach out... I just feel your suggestion for medication and a Psych Doc is a little out there. Maybe there are things going on that are none of any one on here's business and totally respect that... maybe she truly does need a Psych eval... I don't know.... but no sleep/no eat/no church does by no means mean you a mentally ill. It might mean you lost the love of your life and best friend and have no clue how you will go on. She will... she needs love/support and maybe some help... NOT friggin medication. Just my two cents. But, thank you for reaching out.... and, hopefully, if a Psych Doc is truly needed you will get some awesome recommendations on here.

Dr Joyce Smolarski
352-753-6887

I'm so sorry for your friends loss. I can't imagine how she feels. After my mom was killed, I layered up on everything; Counselor, church grief groups, church counseling, psychiatrist for meds, you name it. I did it to help me cope.
One of my counselors suggested I sign up for this daily email. Some days it was spot on, some days it wasn't. But it was something to help me cope. I'm hoping it'll help your friend. She's blessed to have you care for her and try and get her help.

GriefShare - Grief Recovery Support Groups - GriefShare

I’m sorry you’re not getting the answers you’re looking for. I can’t imagine going to grief counseling. My friend just went after she lost a family member and ran out in tears vowing never to return. I would suggest finding a psychiatrist in the area as opposed to trying for a recommendation. Good luck.

I agree that it should have been a simple question (sorry OP). Once again, the old saying comes true - "No good deed goes unpunished."

Interesting post….. how can YOU determine that everyone else is right, what she needs is grief counseling. Love and support. Lol do you not see that you’re doing exactly what you’re yelling at her for doing? How about just don’t answer if you don’t have the answer. You have your opinion of what she’s doing. Good lord. Double standard much?

She should be talking to her primary doctor for the information you are seeking. She will be directed to the proper person to help with her problem. She should not just choose a psychiatrist at random. I urge you to encourage her to talk to per primary doctor.

There are plenty of the psychiatrists and psychologists here. She should be all means talk to her primary doctor for a referral. The Villages Health has several on staff.

Zoloft takes some time to work. It is not an immediate relief.

Wow! I can't imagine NOT going to grief counseling. After losing my wife of 50 years, thru grief counseling, indirectly, I met someone who lost her husband. We have now been married for about 1 year and we have happily moved forward from our grief. I realize we all grieve differently, but your highlighted quote above is a bit over-stated, IMHO.

I agree. The meds she is seeking are just a band aid...which is OK for some temporary relief. But, as we all know, they do not work long term.....Yes, it's tough to get through this, but Grief share, keeping busy, and making new friends is a way forward. Maybe it will not work for her, but it does work for most.