How to help a depressed person?

How to help a depressed person: If you desire to be there for someone who is dealing with depression, you are already being a great person. It can be difficult to know precisely how to help someone with depression, and what to say to someone who is having a harsh time. Remember that each person is separate, and while these tips are manual when helping a friend or family with depression, it is necessary to talk with your friend/family about what they feel they require.

The support of friends and family can play a very significant role in someone’s recovery from depression. Here are some tips for how you can help.

How to help a depressed person:

Push them to get help

You can not push someone to get help if they do not desire it, so it is necessary to comfort your loved one that it is fine to ask for help, and that there are people who can help

Talk about depression openly

There are a lot of people who can find it difficult to open up and speak about how they are feeling. Try to be open about depression and challenging emotions, so your friend or family member knows that it is fine to talk about what they are undergoing.

Listen

Sometimes, the best thing that friends and family can do is just listen. They often do not require you to say anything, just being ready to listen to their problems makes them feel less alone and isolated.

Stay in touch

It might be difficult for your loved one to have the energy to stay in contact, so try to keep in touch with them. Even just a text message to let them know that you are thinking of them can make a significant difference in how they feel.

Also Read: How to control emotions?

Do not be crucial

If you have not experienced depression yourself, it can be difficult to understand why your friend/family member can not just come out of it. Do not blame them or put too much stress on them to get better right away. Your loved one is likely being very crucial and harsh towards themselves already.  

Maintain a balance

If someone is struggling, you may feel like you should take care of everything for them. While it might be useful to help them do things, like cook healthy meals, at the same time it is also necessary to enable them to do things for themselves. Everyone will require a different kind of support, so talk to your family member or friend about what they might find useful to have your help with, and recognize things they can try to do themselves.

Take care of yourself

Your mental health is necessary too, and looking after someone else could put stress on your well-being. It can be difficult to see someone you care about undergoing depression. You can be there for your friends/family, but it is equally essential to do things that keep you well. By taking care of yourself, you will be in a better place.