My mom has been very depressed, just after Christmas she was saying that she just wanted to die and 'can't she just die'. I've encouraged her to get help and she did get back on her compulsive gambling medication. She's been trying to find a job or something to do, but she is so angry that ...it sometimes shows and people don't want her around. She needs to be around people though to find love and support, but can lash out and be so mean. I feel like her only lifeline and have limited time to give her - i work full time and my boyfriend likes to be with me on the weekends.
As for your mom, how about her volunteering somewhere? There is nothing better to make you think about someone OTHER than yourself, when you're helping SOMEONE else. At the local hospital here, there are senior citizen women volunteers that check people in for different operations. They answer questions, guide the patient to their rooms (day surgery) and notify the people waiting when the doctor is coming to talk to them. They sit there smiling, with their blue hair and everything, and are quite pleasant.
Carol