Helping a friend or loved one with depression can be challenging. For many people with depression, the symptoms are severe enough to cause problems with day-to-day activities (e.g., attending school or getting to work each day), but others might feel miserable or overwhelmed without knowing why. If someone in your life has depression, whether or not that person has a diagnosis, you might feel at a loss for how to best support that person.
The most important step toward helping a loved one with depression is to understand the symptoms. The course of major depressive disorder is variable, and symptoms vary from person to person. Familiarizing yourself with the possible symptoms will help you better understand what your loved one is experiencing. knowing why. If someone in your life has depression, whether or not that person has a diagnosis, you might feel at a loss for how to best support that person.
BE AWARE THAT:
- Depression is a serious condition
- The symptoms of depression can make it difficult for an individual to connect on a deep emotional level with anyone.
- Depression drains energy, motivation and positive viewpoints in life.
- They just can't feel better by consummate force of will.
- Hiding problems won't make it go away.
- Just getting out of bed can be exhausting.
BE CONCERNDED IF YOUR LOVED ONE:
- Doesn't seem to care about anything anymore
- Seems exposed and starts negative outlook on life
- Frequently complains of aches and pains
- Sleeps less than usual or oversleeps
- Eats more or less than usual
- Drinks more or abuses drugs
POSSIBLE WAY TO START THE CONVERSTAION:
- I have been feeling concerned about you lately
- I have noticed some differences in you and i just wanted to find out how you're doing
- I wanted to check in on you because you seem a bit down lately.
- When did you begin feeling like this?
- How can I support you right now?
How can friends and family help?
1. Support them to get Help
You can't force anyone to get help if they don't want it, so it's important to reassure your loved one that it's OK to ask for help, and that there is help out there.
2.Be open about Depression
Lots of people can find it hard to open up and speak about how they're feeling. Try to be open about depression and difficult emotions, so your friend or family member knows that it's OK to talk about what they're experiencing.
"The best things that friends and family can do is simply listen. They often don't need to say anything, just being willing to listen to your problems makes you feel less alone and isolated"
3. Keep in Touch
It might be hard for your loved one to have the energy to keep up contact, so try to keep in touch. Even just a text message or email to let them know that you're thinking of them can make a big difference to how someone feels.
4.Don't be Critical
If you've not experienced depression yourself, it can be hard to understand why your friend or family member can't just 'snap out of it'. Try not to blame them or put too much pressure on them to get better straight away – your loved one is probably being very critical and harsh towards themselves already.
5. Keep a Balance.
If someone is struggling, you might feel like you should take care of everything for them. While it might be useful to offer to help them do things, like keep on top of the housework or cook healthy meals, it's also important to encourage them to do things for themselves. Everyone will need different support, so talk to your friend or family member about what they might find useful
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