Depression is a mental illness affecting thousands of people. However, due to its deeply individualistic nature, not many people know how to help a friend with depression. This should not come as a surprise as some professionals even have a problem with successfully curing patients that have it. However, the first step is in identifying that a loved one actually needs help with battling this illness. You are even more at an advantage at helping a friend who needs your assistance, as you already know the type of character they have, their usual disposition and their history on a personal level. In addition to this, you already have their trust, and thus they would be more likely to open up to you. If you are looking to provide positive support, here are some tips on how to help your loved one deal with depression.
Assure your loved one that you will give them any assistance they need
Let your friend know that you are there for them. Most people who are suffering from depression simply need some emotional support. You should let your friend know that you will support them no matter what and in whatever form that they would like that support. You could find that your friend may just want someone to talk to and would probably need some quality time with you several times a week to pick up their mood. When letting them know that they have your support, also tell them that you are providing that support without any judgment. This may make it easier for them to open up to you.
Do not be judgemental
When your friend decides to open up to you about their depression, do not judge them. In addition to this, do not diminish how severe they may think their problems are. Remember you are offering them support so listen to them and let them rant, vent or just cry.
Discuss the different treatment options that they could seek
There are numerous methods of battling depression. This would require you to conduct additional research so that you can offer a number of alternatives to tackling the problem. Some of the help that they could seek include enrolling in counselling sessions, opting for natural methods of treating depression, taking antidepressants, engaging in activities known to relieve stress and more. The more options you can discuss the better, as they will see that there are ways of coping with the depression.
Share18 November 2016
My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for nearly a decade. It has been really hard to deal with the stress and guilt of the process, including grieving the babies that we have lost through miscarriages. We have both gone through periods of feeling guilty and responsible for the problems we have had conceiving; although, the doctors have never been able to work out exactly why we haven't been able to have a baby. Counselling has helped us to deal with our grief and has helped us to draw closer through this hard time rather than growing apart.
