Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of individuals. However, it is still a disorder that many people do not understand. For people who have friends or family dealing with depression, you might feel clueless and frustrating when you try to help them. You might even feel anger and sadness. But these feelings are normal. Depression is a complex thing and can affect individuals differently.
Your support and encouragement can play a significant role in your loved one’s recovery. But you should still look out for your own well-being, otherwise, it could also be overwhelming for you. That said, here are some ways that you could do to help and support your loved one suffering from depression:
Understand depression
Before even trying to help, you should understand first how depression can affect a person. If you have never experienced depression, you might have a difficult time emphasizing with them. You should understand that depression is a very serious illness. It can drain your loved one’s energy, motivation and will to do anything. You cannot force them to get out of bed or just get over it. Sometimes, they do not even realize that what they are dealing with is a disorder.
There are a lot of resources online that you can read about symptoms of depression you can refer to so you will know how to better approach and support your loved one’s disorder.
Don’t take anything personally
Depression can make a person be apathetic, or toxic. It is hard for them to connect to anyone, even the people they love, on a deep emotional level. They might do or say a lot of hurtful stuff they do not mean. Some people might even push you away and shut you out completely from their life. This can be unhealthy for you, so remember that this is the depression talking, not your loved one, so try not to take it personally.
But, if it becomes too much for you, make sure to set boundaries for yourself. You can be there for them, but always put yourself first.
Encourage them to go to get help
Getting help is one of the scariest things a depressed person might face. Even if they know therapy could help, it can be daunting to search for a therapist and make an appointment. They will feel too lazy to do it or say a lot of excuses to avoid going to one.
Encouraging them and helping them make the first appointment can be so helpful if they’re having a hard time with it. You can even book an appointment for them with counseling providers like Everyday Empathy. You can also accompany them during their appointments to show your support on their journey to get better.
Depression is a difficult thing to deal with – not only for the person suffering the illness but also for their friends and family. The best thing you can do for them is to be there for them. Listen to your friends and family and be patient with them. And most of all, encourage them to seek help.
