What are your thoughts on helping a loved one through a depression?
442448
Is this a chronic depression or temporary depression due to a specific event? If it's chronic, maybe just be there when he/she needs you and make sure he/she gets professional help. If its temporary, determine the source of depression and try solving the problem or improve the situation, thus eliminate the source of depression.
676366
When depression strikes, the depressed person isn't the only one affected. Everyone around them -- family, friends, and co-workers -- feels the impact.\n\nHelping a loved one cope with depression can be key to his or her recovery. But it isn't always going to be easy. Here are some tips.\n\n\n\n      Get the facts. The first thing you should do is learn more about depression. Read up on its causes and treatments.\n\n\n      Get other people involved. You can't do this alone. Your friend or loved one may want you to keep his or her depression a secret. But that isn't healthy. It puts far too much pressure on you. So try to get a small circle of family and friends to help. That way, you can help look after your loved one together.\n\n\n      Ask what your loved one needs. Be direct. Unless you ask, you just won't know what your friend or loved one wants from you.\n\n\n      Don't try to solve the problem on your own. Your loved one needs professional help to get better. Depression is a real illness. You wouldn't try to cure a friend's diabetes on your own. You shouldn't try curing depression either.\n\n\n      Offer to help with the practical things. People who are depressed are easily overwhelmed. Everyday stuff -- dressing the kids for school, grocery shopping, or laundry -- may feel like too much. So pitch in. Sometimes practical help can make a big difference.\n\n\n      Take time for yourself. Taking care of someone who is depressed can be overwhelming. So it's key that you set aside time for yourself. Do things that you enjoy. Get out of the house on a regular basis. Take walks or go to the gym. Catch a movie or dinner with friends.\n\n      Given what your loved one is going through, you may feel guilty or selfish for thinking about yourself. But taking care of yourself is crucial. If you don't, you'll burn out -- and that won't help either of you.\n\n\n      Know your limits. There is a lot you can do to help your loved one. But you can't do everything. You can't make your loved one well. You can't watch him or her 24 hours a day. These things aren't in your power. In the end, your loved one has to want to get better, too.\n\n\n      Take threats seriously. Suicide is a very real risk of depression. If your friend or loved is threatening to commit suicide, take action. Don't leave the person alone. Remove any weapons or large amounts of medication. Call a suicide hotline or your loved one's therapist. In a crisis, don't hesitate to call emergency services. You can't keep something this serious a secret.\n\n\nI hope that helps, all the best to you and your friend!I went through a bout of depression, but didn't really tell my friends: I knew that they would say 'just cheer up!' or 'just don;t think about it' or 'snap out of it'... Those are actually the worst things you can say to someone who is depressed, as it makes them feel even worse that they cannot make themselves 'snap out of it'. I would advise you just to be there for her to talk to and do things with... and don't give up on her!
854168
She needs to get help right away. I'm not sure how old she is and if she still lives with her parents. If she does, you have to make the difficult decision of telling them. They may not realize how seriously she is depressed. If she is an adult, it is hard to force someone to get help. If someone is about to commit suicide, then 911 can be called. Otherwise, you can encourage them to talk to their doctor, talk to a distress centre/suicide prevention line, talk to a counsellor or go to the emergency room of a hospital. Try to keep the lines of communication as open as you can. She needs to know that people care about her. With that said, if she does hurt herself that is not your fault. You are doing what you can. She is lucky to have a caring friend like you. I hope things work out really well.
994483
Hi Sean,\n\nBoth my mom and dad (mom has it a lot worse though) have depression and I love them so maybe I can help.\n \nI have found the best thing I can do for them is be there for support.  Sometimes that means giving up fun with friends for a quiet night in keeping my mom company.  Sometimes it means trying to deal with her mood swings.\n\nThe mood swings are the hardest to deal with.  You just need to stay calm and remember how much she is suffering to treat someone she loves so horribly. "This too, shall pass" is a saying I heard one time and I try to keep that in my mind.  Also, you should not do too much for them, but you should do what you can to help the person.  For example, if she has a White Castle Craving at 9 PM and is whining about how much she wants it and being mean to you and White Castle is 10 miles away, give her options like driving there herself or offer to fix her something from  the kitchen.  Sometimes it is bad to do too much for people.  This is called "enabling".  \n\n I have found that when my mom wants to argue, I just let her say what she needs to say and remember she doesn't really mean it.  I also learned not to talk back in these situations because there is no reasoning with her.\n\nOne other thing you really need to think about is if the relationship is worth it.  Do you love her because she is her or do you just think you love her?  Can you handle her symptoms?  It isn't worth going crazy yourself over it.\n\nI really hope your girlfriend is getting help.  Medication and counseling has worked wonders for both my parents. Best wishes to you.  Pease let me know if I can do anything else to help.
127539
IT'S VERY EASY FOR SOMEONE TO TELL YOU TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND WATCH MOVIES TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER. THE TRUTH IS WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THAT, THEY DON'T CARE AND DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED WITH YOUR SITUATION. IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY HOW TO GET OVER DEPRESSION,BECAUSE ITS LIKE CANCER VERY DEADLY.MY BEST ANSWER TO YOU IS, TALK TO GOD AND BELIEVE IN HIM THAT HE WILL HELP YOU. NOTHING NOR NO-ONE IS TOO MUCH OR POWERFUL FOR HIM.GOD CAN HEAL ALL THINGS,ALONG WITH DEPRESSION. ASK HIM TO LIFT THAT FROM YOUR BODY,MIND,AND SOUL,AND YOU WILL BE HEALED. TRUST HIM AND ONLY HIM AND HE WILL MAKE A WAY.
747840
Yes. You're helping someone. I mean if you don't and something bad happens to them, wouldn't that make you feel a bit guilty?\nBesides, you might make a friend along the way.
779836
Well, yes, I am a depression survivor.  I did not conquer it so much as just learn to deal with it.  I know I am vulnerable to depression.  I know it doesn't take much and that I am one to dwell on things and also to sulk and mope.  I am also a more introverted person and need my space, so for me, going out and partying would not help!  \n But I did learn that moping and staying home and not dealing with things is also very bad, probably the worst thing you can do.  \n\nIf you need time alone, you should take it, but make sure you are doing something productive or something you enjoy.  I need to do something creative usually.  If you do nothing, you will probably just feel worse.  \n\n    Getting exercise, doing a project, really helps.  For me, I like to cook, bake, or do crafts.  I like to read too, but I find too much sitting gets me in a bad mood, I will feel guilty if I just sit around and read all day, so I only read before bed now.  I make sure I get things done that I need to so that they do not pile up and overwhelm me. I try to keep things tidy and stop clutter from piling up, clutter is an energy-sapper.  I'm not really good at getting rid of clutter, luckily my husband helps a lot with this.  \n\nI take medication too.  I am pretty good right now.  I only see a psychiatrist once every 6 months, where he will do a med check and decide if he needs to make any adjustments.  If I feel worse in the meantime, all I have to do is call and I can get in right away.  He told me since I had depression most of my life, I will probably always need some medication.  \n  I just accepted that it's part of my personality.  (maybe somewhat my upbringing, and that I developed unhealthy ways of dealing with problems and of relating to people)  I don't want to become unable to function again.  I don't want to feel bad minute of every day.  I try to be proactive about it and nip the problems in the bud.  I work on things before they get out of control.  \n  At this point, you need help right away.  You need to get to a doctor, get to a therapist.   If you have been seing a doctor, talk to him and let him know you are not improving.  He should be able to come up with some ideas on what you need to change.  Get a new therapist.  counseling helps, but you have to be able to work with the person you are in therapy with.  You have to be able to communicate with them and tell them what is working and what isn't.  That is different for everyone.  You might have to change therapists a lot until you get one that "fits" with you and how you like to solve problems, and go about your mental healing.\n  Good luck and keep trying!
661291
She sounds very tired, scared and very frustrated. Right now what she probably needs is a FRIEND, someone to lean on. So I would advise for you to go and accidently bump into her. Show to her that you still care and want to help her, but don't look like you pity her or she will become worse. Try and get her to relax, unwind because all.\nI think it would help if you did research on depression.
827848
I think you should do what you were planning to do. Get them involved in helping others. Hopefully they'll feel good after giving that they'll want to do it more often and be grateful for what they have.
195410
The only way she can be helped is if she wants to be....I don't think it matters what you do or say she's the one that wants to be helped..i think it's OK to talk to her and tell her how you feel about this and let her know that when she's ready for help you'll be there...at that point you can find her a group to go to or a hospital to go to...till then just be a friend.
347287
I suffer from depression a lot of the time because I'm 18, married, with a 4 month old, and time get very hard. My husband and I struggle to become one with each other but he drinks and it sometimes gets hard to get close especially intimately. But I pray and try to keep my mouth closed about some of the things I don't like him doing in hopes he will recognize them on his own.
1152625
Would the best time for you to think about you be when you are being hauled out on a stretcher or in a coffin? If you are being abused, GET OUT. I went through the same thing. Depression made hubby #2 the same way, and his mother thought I was just awful for leaving him, but you know what? Mommy wasn't living with his abuse 24/7!
11947
She more than likely is suffering from some form of depression.  Have you tried talking to her (calmly, Open-minded)?  The best you can do for her is listen to her without judging her, let her know that you are concerned and care about her.  Just be there when she needs you.
535748
Send her a "thinking of you" card and let her know she's in your thoughts and prayers. Let her know if she needs anything, do not hesitate to call you. Just to know someone cares about her will touch her deeply and let her know not all people in the world are bad.
744379
Well, you know there is always counselling and supports available to you in your community, but have you tried the self-help approaches? Here are some good tips that you can try at home to see if this lessens your depression. Best of luck.\n\n"GET OUT OF BED: \n\nOne of the most important things you can do is get up at about the same time every morning (even week-ends). Preferably, that means about 7 a.m. or earlier. You might not feel like it but Get Up. Such regularity helps your body function more normally so you're more likely to feel normal. \n\nLIGHTS: \n\nLight helps your body function better. So turn on a lot of lights as soon as you arise. Open curtains to get more sunlight. Better yet, go outdoors into the sunshine as soon as you can. Remove any eyewear so light will enter more readily (glass cuts out some of the sun's rays). But don't stare at the sun, of course. \n\nMOVE: \n\nBe active right away -- oxygenate! That means getting up and walking around your dwelling for five or 10 minutes, or perhaps riding an exercycle. Mild exercise gets the blood flowing and transports more oxygen throughout your body (especially to your brain), helping you feel mentally alert and alive. \n\nMUSIC: \n\nSelect and play some energetic, happy music as you dress and have your breakfast. The audiovisual department of most libraries has albums and tapes you can check out. \n  \n\nBREAKFAST: \n\nBegin your breakfast with protein (i.e., meat, eggs, peanut butter, nuts, cheese). When you get up, your body chemistry is ready to convert food, especially protein,into longlasting energy. To balance your most important meal of the day, add an orange or other fresh fruit and whole grain cereal or whole grain bread. \n\nTALK WITH SOMEONE: \n\nOne of the quickest ways to beat the blues is to interact with others. You might not feel like doing that - you'd rather avoid people when blue. So make lt easier on yourself. Talk with someone you enjoy about a subject you enjoy so there is definite give and take. \n\nAnd, force yourself to say "hello" to the persons next to you in class, those where you live, anyone around. \n\nLIMIT CAFFEINE: \n\nThe long-term (four hours or so) effects of caffeine are depression. Try to limit coffee to no more than one cup in the morning. Coffee can make you more alert for an hour or so, but later you get an opposite reaction. Caffeine tends to increase the release of insulin in the blood, and insulin lowers the blood sugar level. When you have low blood sugar levels, you begin to feel less sure of yourself, and have low energy levels, which can lead to the blues or depression. \n\nLIMIT SUGAR: \n\nSugar might give you an initial rush of energy, but within an hour or so the blood sugar level can become low, and when it's low you may feel low, too. \n\nThe caffeine/sugar cycle. It's easy to get caught in the caffeine and sugar cycle -- having coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, or something with sugar every two hours or so to "stay up." For example, cola contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar plus caffeine equal to about half a cup of coffee. In addition to bringing on the blues, this cycle can result in dependence, poor nutrition. and obesity -- reasons to get down on yourself even more and feel blue. \n\nMAINTAIN FIBER: \n\nFiber helps food go through your digestive system at a proper rate, giving a more constant energy supply. Highly processed foods merely provide a quick surge of energy which can be followed by depression. You can maintain fiber in your diet by eating an orange or grapefruit rather than just drinking the juice. Eat fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grain breads and cereals. \n\nSTRESS B COMPLEX: \n\nSome persons report receiving help by taking a concentrated vitamin B complex. You'll find these called something like "Stress B" or "B 50." This is controversial. \nSome nutritionists say, "Yes, this really should be consider
285322
Is there someone in your family you can talk to about how you're feeling? A close friend? If not, there are hot lines you can call where they have experts available to help you, and help you find solutions to your problems. When people talk about killing themselves, it's usually a cry for help. You need to seek out that help (you've already taken the first step.) There are experts with a lot of experience that can honestly help you deal with whatever pressures, difficulties, or depression is causing you to feel this way. A lot of people have felt exactly the same way you are feeling, and have gotten through it. You're definitely not alone, and happiness is not something that is unattainable, even though it may seem that way now. I wish I could offer you better advice. I certainly know how you feel.
822725
We are all victimised...\n\nI love those answers from pseudo-psychologists who say they need more info to be able to help you! LOL\n\nHow the hell can you help someone that is obviously feeling down and depressed,,, you will supply them with bullshit psychobabble that you've learnt through your "life-experience" that will probably add to their psychoses...\n\nListen mate,,, go to your doctor.. they know you best and also know how to help... if not... talk to a mate at least... but DO NOT rely on amateurs on Yahoo Answers