Helping the Ones We Love Dealing with Depression

You may be confused and even terrified if you live with someone who is depressed and witness their daily activities. And if you've never experienced depression, you might find it difficult to imagine how it feels. You could be unfamiliar with the causes of depression, how it's diagnosed, or the treatment choices available.

Helping someone who is depressed might be difficult. You may feel helpless and unsure what to do if someone you know is depressed. You can educate yourself on your loved one's depression by taking a variety of steps, but you must also look after your own mental health and well-being. Learn how to provide support and understanding, as well as how to assist a loved one in obtaining the resources needed to manage depression. Here are some options for you.

Learn about the signs and symptoms of depression.

The indications and symptoms of depression differ from person to person. They may include the following:

Sadness, weeping, emptiness, or a sense of hopelessness
Even over little issues, angry outbursts, impatience, or frustration might occur.
Loss of pleasure or interest in most or all usual activities, such as sex, hobbies, or sports
Insomnia or excessive sleeping
Due to exhaustion and a lack of energy, even simple tasks require extra effort.
Appetite changes — decreased appetite and weight reduction, or increased food desires and weight gain
Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness are all symptoms of anxiety.
Slowing down one's thoughts, speech, or body motions
Feelings of worthlessness or remorse, obsessing over past failures or blaming yourself for things you have no control over
Problems in thinking, concentrating, making judgments, and recalling information
Death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or suicide are mentioned frequently or repeatedly.
Physical issues that aren't explained, such as back pain or migraines

Many persons with depression have significant symptoms that interfere with their day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities, or interpersonal relationships. Others may be dissatisfied with their lives for no apparent reason. Instead of being sad, children and teenagers may exhibit melancholy by being irritable or grumpy.

Assist them in finding support.

Your acquaintance may be unaware that they are suffering from depression or may be unclear on how to get help.

Even if they are aware that counseling may be beneficial, finding a therapist and scheduling an appointment might be difficult.

If your acquaintance appears to be interested in counseling, offer to assist them in finding a therapist. You can assist your friend in making a list of questions to ask potential therapists and topics to discuss in their first session.

If they're having trouble making that first visit, encouraging and supporting them might be quite beneficial.

Treatment should be encouraged.

People who suffer from depression may be oblivious to the fact that they are depressed. They may be unaware of depression's signs and symptoms, leading them to believe their feelings are normal.

People frequently feel humiliated by their depression and incorrectly assume they can overcome it solely through effort. However, without treatment, depression seldom improves and might even worsen. The person you care about can improve with the correct treatment method.

Here are some things you can do to help:

Discuss what you've noticed and why you're worried about the person.
Explain that depression is a medical problem, not a character flaw or weakness and that it is frequently treatable.
Suggest consulting a professional, such as a doctor or a mental health specialist such a qualified counselor or psychologist.
Offer to assist in the preparation of a list of questions to bring up at an initial consultation with a doctor or mental health specialist.
Set up appointments, accompany them, and attend family therapy sessions to demonstrate your readiness to assist.
Contact a doctor, a hospital, or emergency medical services if your loved one's illness is severe or potentially life-threatening.

Extend invitations.

People suffering from depression may find it difficult to make or keep plans with friends. However, canceling plans might lead to feelings of guilt.

A pattern of canceled plans may result in fewer invites, which can contribute to feelings of isolation. These emotions can exacerbate sadness.

Continue to send invitations to activities, even if you know they're unlikely to accept, to reassure your friend. Tell them you understand if they can't keep their plans while they're going through a difficult time and that there's no obligation to hang out until they're ready.

Just let them know you're pleased to visit them whenever they want.

Keep in contact

Allowing your friend to know you still care about them as they battle through their sadness might be beneficial.

Even if you can't spend a lot of time with them on a regular basis, send them a text, contact them, or pay them a quick visit. Even a simple text message such as “I've been thinking of you and I care about you” can be helpful.

People that are depressed may become more reclusive and avoid interacting with others, so you may find yourself working more to keep the friendship going. Continuing to be a good, supporting presence in your friend's life, even if they can't communicate it to you right now, may make all the difference.

Avoid judging and blaming others.

You can think someone you care about is lazy if they're depressed and can't do the things they used to, such as work or help around the house. When you're feeling frustrated, keep in mind that someone who is sad isn't lazy; they're sick. Simple tasks like cleaning the house, paying bills, and feeding the dog may seem daunting, if not impossible, to someone who is depressed.

You may not be able to take up all of your loved one's tasks around the house if they are piling up.

Try not to blame yourself in addition to avoiding the impulse to blame your loved one. It's okay to ask for aid if you need it.

Love them unconditionally.

Depressed people frequently experience a strong sensation of guilt. They may assume they are an inconvenience to those around them. They may even develop to believe that their loved ones would be “better off” if they stayed with them.

One strategy to overcome these feelings is to show and tell them that you love them unconditionally on a daily basis. It's critical to tell them that you're frustrated with their disease, not with them when you're discouraged or furious.

Bottomline

It's critical to have support, both social and professional. One way we can help one other is to follow up with our loved ones, especially if they've shown signs of despair or suicide ideation.

Encourage your family and friends to seek treatment for depression or suicide ideation. To assist prevent suicide, be aware of the warning signs and follow these seven strategies to begin talking to someone who is depressed.