Arts & Literature1 min ago
Alcoholism, Prescription Drugs, And A Sedentary Lifestyle
98 Answers
An almost totally reclusive, overweight 66 year old woman who has never suffered a serious physical illness, taking prescription drugs (for the past 40 years) for panic attacks, drinking a bottle of vodka a day, and rarely moving from a lying position on the sofa. How long do you think that can continue before it has serious repercussions upon her physical health?
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If her choice is to just lie there nothing can be done. You can't force her to get up and moved around. She could live months or go on for another 20 years and more no way to predict it. From your description I would imagine she does not care if she has weeks or another 25 years left she just does not care!
It's really hard to tell, Naomi, or pot luck.
I've encountered many alcoholics over the years and many many moderate drinkers. They are both equally dead and equally alive.
In the last 20 years of my grand fathers life he moved as little as possible, you wouldn't believe it unless you witnessed it. He died at the age of 87.
I've encountered many alcoholics over the years and many many moderate drinkers. They are both equally dead and equally alive.
In the last 20 years of my grand fathers life he moved as little as possible, you wouldn't believe it unless you witnessed it. He died at the age of 87.
anneasquith, I've no idea what the drugs are but her husband tells me some of them are 'Class A'. I don't understand drugs - but I assume that's not good. She's never been for tests on her liver. She was asked to go for an MRI scan on her brain, but she won't go. She only leaves the house to attend appointments with her doctor to get repeat prescriptions - or to walk a couple of minutes to the local off licence for her booze, which her husband refuses to buy when he gets the household shopping. She does absolutely nothing at home. No housework, no cooking, no laundry, nothing at all. She just lies on the sofa all day watching television, playing about with Facebook, and sleeping. After much persuasion she recently agreed to allow a psychologist to visit her at home, but she says he's stupid so I don't know how long those visits will last. We've tried for a long time to help her and encourage her - but I think we're all rapidly reaching the conclusion that she doesn't want to be helped and is therefore beyond help. Awful! Such a waste of life!
@naomi
Well, this is the problem some depressives face: the people around them try and try and try again to get them interested in "life in general" but (a) the depressed person is so introspective as to not notice that efforts are being made to help them and (b) they are either unappreciative of help, when they do take notice or they may bewail that nobody ever comes round to cheer them up.
So that last part becomes the self-fulfilling prophesy as friends give up on them, cease inviting them to parties or getting in touch by phone, text or whatever. Facebook becomes the entirety of their social life and going out means tearing themselves away from it (the immediacy of it; and it scrolls so, if you miss it, it's gone). It is also like selective hearing; someone else posts but you can choose to not engage with the conversation or you can 'earwig' without being observed. Things which would be disconcerting to friends if you were in the same room.
It can save on petrol, hours sat in the car and/or prohibitive phone bills but it does, regrettably, feed that sedentary habit.
Well, this is the problem some depressives face: the people around them try and try and try again to get them interested in "life in general" but (a) the depressed person is so introspective as to not notice that efforts are being made to help them and (b) they are either unappreciative of help, when they do take notice or they may bewail that nobody ever comes round to cheer them up.
So that last part becomes the self-fulfilling prophesy as friends give up on them, cease inviting them to parties or getting in touch by phone, text or whatever. Facebook becomes the entirety of their social life and going out means tearing themselves away from it (the immediacy of it; and it scrolls so, if you miss it, it's gone). It is also like selective hearing; someone else posts but you can choose to not engage with the conversation or you can 'earwig' without being observed. Things which would be disconcerting to friends if you were in the same room.
It can save on petrol, hours sat in the car and/or prohibitive phone bills but it does, regrettably, feed that sedentary habit.
Prescription meds which are also Class A, B or C are listed here: -
https:/
If I had the curiosity and the patience, I'd pick through the list to see why such things are prescribed at all. But I don't
Anti-depressants are going to be a real sticking point, if that's even a valid diagnosis because I can't think of any which are safe, in combination with the alcohol.
Yes, this yet is another blow to one's aspirations for something approaching a social life, once diagnosed and on the meds.
https:/
If I had the curiosity and the patience, I'd pick through the list to see why such things are prescribed at all. But I don't
Anti-depressants are going to be a real sticking point, if that's even a valid diagnosis because I can't think of any which are safe, in combination with the alcohol.
Yes, this yet is another blow to one's aspirations for something approaching a social life, once diagnosed and on the meds.
Hypognosis, that‘s a pretty good summation – except she doesn’t bewail the fact that people stay away. People would willingly go to see her but she doesn’t want them to. All she seems to want is the sofa, the television, Facebook, and the drink.
Ummmm, She’s lived a very good life. No money worries, health worries, or family problems ever. She goes to the doctor for her medication and to the off license for her booze. This is not depression, but I'm not asking for a diagnosis - simply how long might it be before her body rebels?
Ummmm, She’s lived a very good life. No money worries, health worries, or family problems ever. She goes to the doctor for her medication and to the off license for her booze. This is not depression, but I'm not asking for a diagnosis - simply how long might it be before her body rebels?
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