How to Help Someone With Depression
If you are worried about a friend or family member who is suffering from depression, there are several things you can do to support them. First, you should be understanding. You should ask them how they are feeling, and try to make them feel heard and cared about. You can also encourage them to participate in activity or to take medication. Lastly, avoid shaming them or putting them down.
Encourage activity
One way to help someone with depression is to encourage activity. This can be something as simple as getting out of the house. Getting some fresh air can make a big difference. You can also encourage the person to find a new hobby. If you’re not sure what kind of activity they might like, search the internet for local groups. You can also encourage them to participate in a sports league or play a new sport. Just remember to choose something they enjoy doing.
Encourage self-care
While helping a loved one who is suffering from depression is an important task, it can also be difficult and can take a lot of emotional energy. Educate yourself about depression, its symptoms, and the different types of treatments available. Talk with your loved one about what you see them struggling with and make sure to share your own experience and knowledge. Also, make sure to talk to them about their feelings and how important they are to you.
Encourage medication
If you think your loved one is suffering from depression, you can encourage them to seek professional help. While you should never force someone to seek treatment, you can gently suggest it and give them the power to make the decision. Be sure to educate yourself about the available treatment options. Look for support groups, mental health professionals, and treatment centers in your area. Make sure you know the admissions process for each. Don’t book an appointment unless your loved one has consented.
Avoid shaming
When helping someone with depression, the best thing to do is to stay away from shaming and blaming. Depression is a mental illness, and there’s no point in making it worse by putting others down or making them feel bad for feeling a certain way. These behaviors only serve to increase the person’s sense of guilt. Also, if you offer advice, such as “just snap out of it,” you risk adding to the depression sufferer’s sense of worthlessness. Furthermore, telling someone that there are many people worse off than them is invalidating.
Avoid being critical
When helping someone with depression, it’s important to understand the difficulties that this person may be facing. Depression can make you feel inadequate and worthless. Social support is essential for a person dealing with this condition. However, it’s also important to avoid being too critical. This will only invalidate the person’s feelings and discourage them from talking about them.
Be a compassionate listener
Compassionate listening is one of the most important things you can offer to someone who is suffering from depression. When someone is suffering from depression, their feelings are distorted and they may think that no one cares about them. It is important to remember that people with depression do not feel bad because they are weak or do not have willpower. Rather, depression is a mental illness that requires professional care and support. If you are unsure how to help a loved one who is suffering from depression, try to learn as much as you can about the condition.
