I think an extremely important, and extremely underrated, action you can take to help someone who is depressed is simply to include them in your daily activities. People who suffer from neurological depression literally have to battle their own brains. Many of them do not want to die, and know that they have plenty of reasons to live, yet their brain is telling them otherwise.
That being said, loneliness can be one of the most detrimental contributors to the susceptibility of a person's brain. Boredom fits into the same category. I've heard time and time again the old "I'm here for you" or "I'm always here to talk". That's great and has great intentions behind it and all, but a lot of the times talking doesn't do jack shit for people who suffer from depression. We are aware that there is help out there but it's a matter of whether that help understands the neurological aspects of the disease. Instead, inviting people to be involved in fun activities should be your #1 priority. Don't let them retreat if you know they are depressed.
That's not to say you shouldn't give them space. Of course, everyone needs space. But, like I said before, don't let them retreat! If someone is really struggling and they go off into their quiet space, alone, that is when they are most vulnerable. Go outside and make them laugh.
Everyone is obviously different and so is every case of depression. But I know I'm not alone in the feelings of the benefit of inclusion. It does a lot for some of us. When I am surrounded by people I love I get down much less often than I do when I am alone, or bored. <3
Depression has many levels. Usually, depression grows. It starts really small. Usually if it's less pressured, then it can be helped. Remove all negative triggers such as sad movies, negative thoughts and bring them to different places to have a look around.
4 Ways to Give Support to a Person Who Has Depression
There are a number of actions you need to take so that the burden of depression of someone you love gradually decreases and finally it disappears completely. Here are four ways you have to do if someone you love is depressed.
1. Being in his position
Depressed people will often be defensive, so your accusing tone will not help. Instead, try to convey a sense of understanding. The following words will not help "Why can't you get out of bed?" Instead of trying to say, "You seem to have trouble getting out of bed. What can I do to help you?"
A person who is depressed may have lost his perspective on how big this problem really is. He will find it difficult to hear that what he is experiencing is not really a big problem. It is not helpful to say, "What is your problem? What are you angry about?" Instead of trying to say "You seem to have a big problem right now. Can we handle it together?"
When someone is very sick, he often thinks that you are trying to destroy his life. To overcome that kind of saying, "I am you and you are me. Your problem is my problem and my problem is your problem"
Depression is a terrible disease, a depressed person feels the whole world is very narrow. So you have to treat it the way he feels by saying things like, "I believe in you. If you have a choice in this you will not choose to experience this kind of thing. What if we look for some solutions together?"
2. Convincing often
Many people who suffer from depression feel unworthy of being loved. You need to convince him often. For example "I love you because of who you are. I will not leave you."
In the same vein, he may have lost the ability to recognize his positive attributes. You might need to reiterate by saying like, "You're a sensitive person who cares about someone else" or, "People really love you." Or "If you feel the need for friends, I'm here."
3. Give Understanding and Sympathy
Depressed people can spend a lot of time pondering the situation and regretting themselves. Showing the way out doesn't help. Instead, try to sympathize with saying something like:
"I can't imagine how difficult it is for you, but you have all my sympathy."
"What I want to do is give a hug and cry."
"I can't honestly say that I know how you feel, but I want to help in any way I can."
4. Offer to help
"Let me do something to help you."
If you ask, "What is the best thing I can do to help you now?" Don't be offended if the answer is "Leave me alone." Sometimes, that is the most useful thing you can do right now
Now that means people often try to fix problems. They might say something like, "Do you want to try therapy? If you want to introduce a treatment idea, make sure you respect the seriousness of depression. Maybe you can say something like," It's important that you keep going to the doctor. I have found some information about therapy. Do you want to read it with me? "
Even though it's important to accept people in their positions, don't let that really beat your life. If not, you will fall in a pile and it won't help anyone. You have to take care of yourself. Make sure that you maintain healthy boundaries: "I am committed to you and help you. But I also need to eat / shop / go out to drink coffee / do activities to stay healthy. Then I can take care of you better."
Helping friends, family or lovers who suffer from clinical depression is not enough to just provide a shoulder for just crying. Although the sufferer needs medical care, as many people as there are many things that can be done to make him feel better.
How to help people with depression, according to doctors, can be done with the following:
1. Be aware that treatment is the key
Depression Is a medical condition that requires medical treatment. As family members or friends, we can listen to the person and provide support, but maybe that's not enough. We may lose patience or feel frustrated because the best effort is not able to "cure" them from depression.
Depressed people cannot allow it, they cannot avoid it. You can provide care and support, but that won't solve the problem.
2. Active in giving care
The best thing that can be done for someone with depression is to support treatment. Tell him that depression is a medical problem and ignoring it will not just disappear.
3. Talk about the problem
Let them know that we and others care about them and are willing to always give support. Offer them that we encourage them to get treatment or if they want to talk about their feelings, listen.
4. Keep maintaining relationships
Call or visit someone and invite him to join in daily activities. People who are depressed can become isolated because they feel they don't want to 'disturb' others. We may need to try extra hard to support and make someone who is depressed want to participate.
5. Focus on small goals
A depressed person may ask, "Why bother? Why do I have to get out of bed today?" You can help answer these questions and provide positive reinforcement. Give a small compliment to their activities every day, even for something as simple as waking up.
6. Pay attention
If someone you love has experienced depression before, pay attention if he experiences several phases of life that are at risk of triggering depression. If he becomes big emotionally due to separation, divorce, job loss, death of a family member or other serious stress, be prepared to take steps to help immediately.
7. Invite a doctor
Encourage visiting a doctor or psychologist, taking medications prescribed and participating in cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression.
I have some very good experience with depression. I am still learning to deal with my depression and move on from my emptinesses. One thing I do know to do that helps a lot, is to stay busy.
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.
I think an extremely important, and extremely underrated, action you can take to help someone who is depressed is simply to include them in your daily activities. People who suffer from neurological depression literally have to battle their own brains. Many of them do not want to die, and know that they have plenty of reasons to live, yet their brain is telling them otherwise.
That being said, loneliness can be one of the most detrimental contributors to the susceptibility of a person's brain. Boredom fits into the same category. I've heard time and time again the old "I'm here for you" or "I'm always here to talk". That's great and has great intentions behind it and all, but a lot of the times talking doesn't do jack shit for people who suffer from depression. We are aware that there is help out there but it's a matter of whether that help understands the neurological aspects of the disease. Instead, inviting people to be involved in fun activities should be your #1 priority. Don't let them retreat if you know they are depressed.
That's not to say you shouldn't give them space. Of course, everyone needs space. But, like I said before, don't let them retreat! If someone is really struggling and they go off into their quiet space, alone, that is when they are most vulnerable. Go outside and make them laugh.
Everyone is obviously different and so is every case of depression. But I know I'm not alone in the feelings of the benefit of inclusion. It does a lot for some of us. When I am surrounded by people I love I get down much less often than I do when I am alone, or bored. <3
Depression has many levels. Usually, depression grows. It starts really small. Usually if it's less pressured, then it can be helped. Remove all negative triggers such as sad movies, negative thoughts and bring them to different places to have a look around.
4 Ways to Give Support to a Person Who Has Depression
There are a number of actions you need to take so that the burden of depression of someone you love gradually decreases and finally it disappears completely. Here are four ways you have to do if someone you love is depressed.
1. Being in his position
Depressed people will often be defensive, so your accusing tone will not help. Instead, try to convey a sense of understanding. The following words will not help "Why can't you get out of bed?" Instead of trying to say, "You seem to have trouble getting out of bed. What can I do to help you?"
A person who is depressed may have lost his perspective on how big this problem really is. He will find it difficult to hear that what he is experiencing is not really a big problem. It is not helpful to say, "What is your problem? What are you angry about?" Instead of trying to say "You seem to have a big problem right now. Can we handle it together?"
When someone is very sick, he often thinks that you are trying to destroy his life. To overcome that kind of saying, "I am you and you are me. Your problem is my problem and my problem is your problem"
Depression is a terrible disease, a depressed person feels the whole world is very narrow. So you have to treat it the way he feels by saying things like, "I believe in you. If you have a choice in this you will not choose to experience this kind of thing. What if we look for some solutions together?"
2. Convincing often
Many people who suffer from depression feel unworthy of being loved. You need to convince him often. For example "I love you because of who you are. I will not leave you."
In the same vein, he may have lost the ability to recognize his positive attributes. You might need to reiterate by saying like, "You're a sensitive person who cares about someone else" or, "People really love you." Or "If you feel the need for friends, I'm here."
3. Give Understanding and Sympathy
Depressed people can spend a lot of time pondering the situation and regretting themselves. Showing the way out doesn't help. Instead, try to sympathize with saying something like:
"I can't imagine how difficult it is for you, but you have all my sympathy."
"What I want to do is give a hug and cry."
"I can't honestly say that I know how you feel, but I want to help in any way I can."
4. Offer to help
"Let me do something to help you."
If you ask, "What is the best thing I can do to help you now?" Don't be offended if the answer is "Leave me alone." Sometimes, that is the most useful thing you can do right now
Now that means people often try to fix problems. They might say something like, "Do you want to try therapy? If you want to introduce a treatment idea, make sure you respect the seriousness of depression. Maybe you can say something like," It's important that you keep going to the doctor. I have found some information about therapy. Do you want to read it with me? "
Even though it's important to accept people in their positions, don't let that really beat your life. If not, you will fall in a pile and it won't help anyone. You have to take care of yourself. Make sure that you maintain healthy boundaries: "I am committed to you and help you. But I also need to eat / shop / go out to drink coffee / do activities to stay healthy. Then I can take care of you better."
Helping friends, family or lovers who suffer from clinical depression is not enough to just provide a shoulder for just crying. Although the sufferer needs medical care, as many people as there are many things that can be done to make him feel better.
How to help people with depression, according to doctors, can be done with the following:
1. Be aware that treatment is the key
Depression Is a medical condition that requires medical treatment. As family members or friends, we can listen to the person and provide support, but maybe that's not enough. We may lose patience or feel frustrated because the best effort is not able to "cure" them from depression.
Depressed people cannot allow it, they cannot avoid it. You can provide care and support, but that won't solve the problem.
2. Active in giving care
The best thing that can be done for someone with depression is to support treatment. Tell him that depression is a medical problem and ignoring it will not just disappear.
3. Talk about the problem
Let them know that we and others care about them and are willing to always give support. Offer them that we encourage them to get treatment or if they want to talk about their feelings, listen.
4. Keep maintaining relationships
Call or visit someone and invite him to join in daily activities. People who are depressed can become isolated because they feel they don't want to 'disturb' others. We may need to try extra hard to support and make someone who is depressed want to participate.
5. Focus on small goals
A depressed person may ask, "Why bother? Why do I have to get out of bed today?" You can help answer these questions and provide positive reinforcement. Give a small compliment to their activities every day, even for something as simple as waking up.
6. Pay attention
If someone you love has experienced depression before, pay attention if he experiences several phases of life that are at risk of triggering depression. If he becomes big emotionally due to separation, divorce, job loss, death of a family member or other serious stress, be prepared to take steps to help immediately.
7. Invite a doctor
Encourage visiting a doctor or psychologist, taking medications prescribed and participating in cognitive behavioral therapy to treat depression.
I have some very good experience with depression. I am still learning to deal with my depression and move on from my emptinesses. One thing I do know to do that helps a lot, is to stay busy.
I will drop only one crucial point here.
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.