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Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center Inc.

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Psychotherapy and Mental Health Questions

Approaching My Tightly Wound Depressed Attorney Brother

I have a question for you. How do I approach my brother and encourage him to open up to me about depression and possible alcohol abuse? His wife called me the other night. She is worried and thinks I am the only person he may confide in. He would not talk with her. He is a tightly wound high power attorney who lives an incredibly stressful life. He has his own practice and business is doing poorly. His wife is also an attorney, kids are in expensive private school, overscheduled, always on the run with tons of lessons of one sort or another. Kids are 14 and 11, good kids but going thru teen angst. Anyhow, he has been drinking a lot at night, alone, isolating himself. Won't exercise anymore, gained a lot of weight. My husband is going to join a rock climbing gym and invite him to climb with him. They have a good relationship, always used to cycle together, but I know their conversations are usually fluff. I think I can get him to talk with me but am not sure how to approach it. You know, like a conversation starter. Any advice? I really could use it. Thanks sooooooooo much

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