How To Support Your Family/ Friends/ Partner - Depression

Before we figure out how to support your loved ones if they are depressed, it is good to start with knowing and understanding what exactly is depression? I am sure many of you know it already but let's do a quick refresher!!

What is Depression?

Depression includes not only a sad mood but also numerous cognitive, behavioural, physical, and emotional symptoms. When these symptoms are severe, chronic, or occur repeatedly, they may interfere with our personal relationships or our work.

So, if you observe and notice that your loved ones are suffering from the symptoms of depression, you would be able to have a right structured approach to support and encourage them.

Sometimes, a depressed person is unaware of the fact he is suffering from depression and when one does not know what the problem is, they cannot find a solution. And, sometimes even if they are aware, they do not want to reach out and get treatment from the mental health experts.

So, it is quite important for you as a family member, partner or a friend to know what your loved one is going through. Because you have a key role in this phase of his life.

Let's see what could we do to support our loved ones!!

★ Do not take their behaviour personally.

The first thing to do is not to take things personally. Under the symptoms of depression, their behaviour will be changed. At many occasions, you will experience they neglect you. They do not want to talk or hang out with you. You will miss the natural warmth and find it as weird (if you are ignorant of depression). Because you will be taking things on face value.

But you know they are depressed and probably you need to have more patience and compassion during this rough patch. Also not taking things personally does not mean we will be ignoring the symptoms and do nothing about it. We going to acknowledge them and create a plan to deal with them together.

★ Talk with them compassionately.

They are your loved ones. They could not be comfortable talking with others better than you. So, let them know you are here to listen to them without any judgment. They can count you always for sharing and discussing any thing that is bothering them.

Instead of telling them to seek professional help, just listen. Because sometimes an ear is more important than a bunch of advice.

Here are a few examples of how you can talk about it with them-

❑ To initiate a talk - You can say, "I wanted to talk with you because you have seemed quite low lately. How are you feeling?"

❑ Questions you may ask to keep the chat going - You can say,

"Did something happen lately that made you feel this way?"

"How can we tackle this? How can I be of some help?"

❑ How to show them you really care? Sometimes along with actions, you have to tell them in words that how much you care for them and how important they are for you.

"I am here with you. You are not alone."

"You are an important part of my life. I care for you. Let me know anything you want to discuss."

★ Encourage them to seek professional help

You are a big support system for them. But you cannot able to do all by yourself for them. So, it is good to talk and encourage them to seek professional help. Because a professional knows what could be the best plan for them to tackle this. Talk and let them know it is okay to talk and seek help. You are with them.

★ Allow some personal space.

It is good you are with them and doing all you can do to support. But being around most of the time may overwhelm them. They may feel dependent on you. It may lower their self-esteem and confidence to take decisions and make choices. So give them some personal space so they can think independently in solitude.

★ Encourage activities.

Talk to them and encourage them to participate in a variety of uplifting activities as well as continue their routine activities. Like, encourage them to exercise as it uplifts them and make them feel better. You need to be gentle as well as persistent so they continue the streak to do the activities.

★ Take care of yourself.

While taking care of them, it is equally important to have good care of yourself. Because you can be able to support them only when you are feeling healthy. Set the boundaries as and where needed so you get time for yourself as well.

And, last but not the least!!

★ Have emergency information -

Keep a list of all important and emergency information so you could know whom to approach in case of emergencies as well as help them too to keep this information.

What else?

For more information on it, you can speak with mental health experts or check various articles available on the Internet to know more about this mental health issue.

Knowing the right things can help you to help someone in a better way.

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