How to help a friend or family member with depression
Perhaps one of us has a family member or friend who has it, and while this is extremely painful for the person with the disease, it is often also very difficult for those around him, is it because sometimes it is very difficult to understand?? The disease creates a lot of uncertainties for those who don’t have it, so it’s hard to know how to act.
- People close to those with depression play a key role in the support they can offer and provide to the patient.
- We can help them in several ways:.
Depression is a disease like any other, its appearance depends on several factors and not only on the person, as many incorrect popular beliefs claim. In other words, depression requires a specific diagnosis and treatment.
Only health professionals can diagnose the disease in a person, based on specific criteria. We can read books and secure information, consult with different professionals to improve our understanding of depression so we can help our loved ones.
There are many treatments for depression, but despite this, many people do not seek help.
It is very important to seek adequate treatment for depression because:
? She has treatment; ? Treatment reduces pain and suffering over time; ?The longer the disease lasts, the more complications there will be during treatment; ?It can prevent some serious consequences of depression, such as a suicide attempt.
As family or friends, we can help the person continue treatment, as well as try to make our loved one have a healthy lifestyle (good diet, regular exercise, etc. ).
For the support to be effective, it must be offered remotely, without oppressing the person, giving affection and being understanding and patient, there is no need to overwhelm the person with advice or even orders, because it only increases the feelings of guilt and helplessness that the patient is already experiencing.
Depression is a disease, is it unnecessary to say “I, in your place” or “I understand you perfectly, I know how you feel,” then you have to remember it, or would you ask someone with the flu to stop having a fever?To reassure people who are depressed, we can tell them that we understand their difficulties, that they are not crazy at all and that it is a disease that affects a large number of people.
The person suffering from depression is generally more sensitive to offers of help, so don’t be too maternal or carefree. The person will feel even more useless and will increasingly say phrases like “I’m useless!” if you act the wrong way.
It is convenient to know that depressed people get tired quickly because they constantly fight fatigue and negative thoughts; that’s why we shouldn’t ask them for much effort or do things against their will. What we can do is from time to time motivate them with love and understanding. That’s why, when they try hard, it’s good that we know how to recognize them.
Finally, it is important to maintain an open attitude, and not discredit the feelings and emotions expressed by our friend or family member, offering reality and showing hope in the face of the situation.
Depression can end up being a long process in which we share the suffering of our loved one and find the strength to offer him all our support and affection, so it is essential to avoid wear and tear.
The predominance of negative thoughts in depression, both of oneself, of others and of the world, can generate feelings of irritability and sometimes rejection in those around them, here are a series of tips to consider in such situations:
? Don’t feel guilty because your loved one suffers from depression, there is no culprit and this disease can be caused by the convergence of multiple factors (biological, psychological, etc. ). When you feel helpless or overwhelmed, you can turn to professionals who can help you; They can guide you through the process of developing the disease. If you tend to isolate yourself, it’s worth remembering that it’s not good to be constantly locked in a bubble, adapt to the situation, without paralyzing all your projects.
Remember that to care for someone else, we need to be healthy, so be sure to take care of yourself.
Image credits: Eli Shaul