How to Support Someone with Depression
Millions of people across the globe deal with the effects of depression every day. While most of us recognize depression as a feeling of extreme sadness, it’s so much more than that. Depression can leave you feeling both helpless and hopeless. It can foster physical symptoms like fatigue and keep you from enjoying your life and the people in it.
Because depression is such a prominent mental health condition, it’s likely you know someone who might be struggling with it. The good news is that you can make every effort to support that person. Your care and encouragement could be exactly what they need to start overcoming the condition.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you can support someone with depression.
1. Be an Active Listener
A loved one with depression might not always want to open up about how they’re feeling. In fact, withdrawing from people is one of the most common symptoms of depression.
So, when your loved one does want to talk, make sure you’re available to listen. Don’t force a conversation, but let them know you’re there for support.
Being an active listener means truly developing an understanding of what they’re saying. Use nonverbal cues to show you’re paying attention. Avoid distractions. Ask questions. Most importantly, make sure you’re validating their feelings and encouraging them to take the necessary steps to fight back.
2. Help With a Routine
It can be difficult for people with depression to stick to a daily routine. Some people might have a hard time sleeping at night, so it throws off their day. Other people might have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.
Routines are important for everyone. But, they can be especially helpful for those dealing with depression. Work with your loved one to establish a routine that fits their lifestyle. It could include waking up at the same time each day, self-care practices like journaling and exercising, and better sleep hygiene habits.
A routine gives that person something to look forward to. It can foster healthy habits that make them feel more in control rather than allowing their depression to control them. Routines organized around self-care can provide a helpful structure to help combat low motivation or self-esteem.
3. Be a Friend
Sometimes, simply being a good friend and spending time with your loved one is the best thing you can do. Help them get out of the house by inviting them for a walk around the neighborhood. Or, create a standing weekly date at your favorite coffee shop. Even bringing them dinner once a week and enjoying it at their house can make a difference.
Showing that person that they have support will help them realize they don’t have to deal with this condition on their own. You don’t have to force things or “trick” your friend into participating. You simply have to be there.
4. Encourage Professional Help
If there’s a positive side when it comes to depression, it’s that it’s often a very manageable condition. But it’s not something anyone should tackle alone.
Encourage your loved one to work with a mental health professional to overcome their depression. Therapy is a great way for them to understand where their depression stems from. It will also provide them with healthy, effective ways to overcome it, as well as symptom management techniques to make every day easier.
By offering your encouragement and support when it comes to treatment, your friend might not feel so overwhelmed by it. Reach out to me, and I can assist you and help your friend with therapy to help them through their depression. Helping them realize that they aren’t alone can often give them the strength they need to fight back against this condition.
