Helping A Loved One Diagnosed With Depression
Depression is not a curse or a punishment, and it is definitely not something you can just “get over.” The condition can have grave consequences if not treated. If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with depression, your love and support may make all the difference in whether they get well, or not.
We tend to keep unpleasant news to ourselves. Diagnosis of an illness falls in that category. Do we think that we can handle our illness by ourselves or are we ashamed to the point of silence?
Depression is a misunderstood condition. It is not a made-up disease but a true illness that is caused by chemical imbalances in our brain that affect how we think and act. Family and friends are often confused by our change of behavior, sometimes misinterpreting it as just a bad day or thoughtless word.
When the diagnosis of depression is made, others begin to understand that it is much more than they thought, but now what? How are family and friends supposed to act? How do you keep from saying the wrong thing when talking to your loved one about depression? Here are a few tips.
1.Listen to them. A listening ear will hear and learn. Allow the person to discuss their illness and to share any information that they received from the doctor. You will learn about treatment options as well as give your loved one some much needed support.
2.Ask what you can do. If you don’t know what to do, ask. Volunteering to do one thing or another without consulting the person that you are helping is not a good plan as you may be doing something entirely wrong. They know what they need and if you offer an open invitation, they may feel free enough to tell you.
3.Attend a therapy session or group meeting with them. Group meetings are important for depression sufferers because it lets them know that they are not alone. Seeing others in the same situation makes them understand that they are not bad, or stupid, or crazy. Attending a family therapy session or meeting with them gives you the chance to ask questions of the therapist and learn how you can be of further help.
4.Don’t judge. At one time, depression was thought to be the result of a weak mind or body. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Depression isn’t something that you think up in your head. It is most likely a combination of circumstances and traumas. Questioning the person's duplicity in their illness can make that person feel like they are being interrogated and blamed for their disorder.
5.Pay attention. Being careful what you say to a depressed person is only part of the story. Being alert to details of what is being said to you is just as important. Knowing the side effects of medication and the signs and symptoms of depression can help you discern when your loved one is in danger. Talk of suicide is a possible side effect of some antidepressants but it is also a valid reason to contact a doctor for immediate intervention.
Finding out you have depression can be alarming. As a friend or family member, being available to that person both emotionally and physically can improve their chances of recovery and a better life.
Depression is not a curse or a punishment, and it is definitely not something you can just “get over.” The condition can have grave consequences if not treated. If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with depression, your love and support may make all the difference in whether they get well, or not.
We tend to keep unpleasant news to ourselves. Diagnosis of an illness falls in that category. Do we think that we can handle our illness by ourselves or are we ashamed to the point of silence?
Depression is a misunderstood condition. It is not a made-up disease but a true illness that is caused by chemical imbalances in our brain that affect how we think and act. Family and friends are often confused by our change of behavior, sometimes misinterpreting it as just a bad day or thoughtless word.
When the diagnosis of depression is made, others begin to understand that it is much more than they thought, but now what? How are family and friends supposed to act? How do you keep from saying the wrong thing when talking to your loved one about depression? Here are a few tips.
1.Listen to them. A listening ear will hear and learn. Allow the person to discuss their illness and to share any information that they received from the doctor. You will learn about treatment options as well as give your loved one some much needed support.
2.Ask what you can do. If you don’t know what to do, ask. Volunteering to do one thing or another without consulting the person that you are helping is not a good plan as you may be doing something entirely wrong. They know what they need and if you offer an open invitation, they may feel free enough to tell you.
3.Attend a therapy session or group meeting with them. Group meetings are important for depression sufferers because it lets them know that they are not alone. Seeing others in the same situation makes them understand that they are not bad, or stupid, or crazy. Attending a family therapy session or meeting with them gives you the chance to ask questions of the therapist and learn how you can be of further help.
4.Don’t judge. At one time, depression was thought to be the result of a weak mind or body. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Depression isn’t something that you think up in your head. It is most likely a combination of circumstances and traumas. Questioning the person's duplicity in their illness can make that person feel like they are being interrogated and blamed for their disorder.
5.Pay attention. Being careful what you say to a depressed person is only part of the story. Being alert to details of what is being said to you is just as important. Knowing the side effects of medication and the signs and symptoms of depression can help you discern when your loved one is in danger. Talk of suicide is a possible side effect of some antidepressants but it is also a valid reason to contact a doctor for immediate intervention.
Finding out you have depression can be alarming. As a friend or family member, being available to that person both emotionally and physically can improve their chances of recovery and a better life.
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