this is going to sound outrageous but I've seen some info on people micro dosing magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and saying it helped with their depression

Sometimes I think we are too quick to pull the doctor/medication lever. Many times a simple case of worn out and stressed is diagnosed as mental issues. Perhaps look into some CBD gummies, or other non-prescription sleep aids before jumping onto the anti-depressants. Those medications are for when there is a genuine chemical imbalance affecting your mental health. Taking them when you don't have that imbalance can actually make your problem much worse.

I went thru a spell of full blown panic attacks. Doc put me on an SSRI. It did wonders for me.

I live by the “if two are good, three is better” creedo…I don’t micro dose anything.

+10000

My step son has a real mental health issue. He's been homeless for several years and refused to get help. Last year the day after Christmas we got a call no parent should get. He was arrested for murdering his girlfriend. They got into a drug / alcohol influenced fight and he stabbed her in the head.

We tried so many different ways to get him help, he flat out refused to see he has demons.

Every day when I visit the TFF.

If the person is a threat to themselves or others you can have them picked up and held for a mental evaluation. You have to get a mental health warrant signed by a magistrate or judge. MHMR is where you do the application before taking to the judge.

And she has to see patients...

We went / go through this with my brother. It is rough on the whole family. mainly the ones that live with them. We had to intervein a few times. Actually had to admit him a few times. The Andrews center helped tremendously. It's tough when they don't accept help. Tough love is just about the only option.

I have absolutely no credentials here and have never struggled with mental health... That said...

I believe there are three main types of mental health issues:

1. The first is a small feeling of being down or general malaise. Go for a run. Take a cold shower. Eat some macadamia nuts. Go for a walk in the sun or in the woods. Spend some time being grateful. Call an old friend. Go fishing. These types of things tend to fix this issue quickly.

2. The second type is your brain signaling to you that something is wrong in your life you and should feel crappy about it. The crappy feeling is meant to motivate you to change the crappy situation. Figure out what the crappy thing in your life is and fix it. If you are fat and down about that... Get fit. If you don't have any romantic interests in life, get in shape, get some new clothes, get on a dating app. Not sleeping? Get a sleep study done. Maybe you've got sleep apnea and need a Cpap.. Maybe you are so lazy all day your body just isn't tired. Get moving. No money? Go back to school, educate yourself and launch a career. etc...

3. The third type is a real deal issue going on in your brain. It could be bipolar, clinical depression, chemical issues, insert whatever verifiable mental illness you want. These have to be addressed by medical professionals. If the first and second type of mental issue have been ruled out, you've got to work under the assumption #3 is a possibility. If a person in your life is looking like #3 and refusing to get help, I think the only course of action is for someone extremely close to them to have a VERY candid conversation with them. In this case it would be your sister. She needs to sit down with her husband and tell him she is no longer okay with him refusing to seek help for his issue. She wants to be there to support him, but his current state is not sustainable and causing significant negative issues in her life. It cannot continue. If he refuses help, there will be consequences which could include leaving the marriage either on a short- or long-term basis.

For issues 1 and 2, and this might be most people, what they really need is a boot in the butt as DI said. However, there are plenty of people who have real deal #3. If they don't get help it WILL end badly.

As a final thought there, I would have to be at deaths door to start taking SSRIs. Gives you ED, turns you into a zombie, is addictive, and has a bevy other issues. If your choice is all that or suicide, I'd take the SSRI. Otherwise, I'd exhaust all other options.

For those of us that struggled at one time with anxiety and related insomnia, I can tell you if you have not experienced it you really don't have a place at the table to talk. Medication in conjuction with counseling and life changes is needed. I feel for the man, but if he loves his family he will do what is necessary to get help.

tx_basser says that since I have no experience with anxiety related insomnia I'm not allowed to comment on your question. Sorry about that. Please disregard everything I said.