How to support someone with depression?

How to support someone with depression: Anyone can be affected by depression. Yet, it is still an illness that many people find hard to understand. These days, people talk about mental illness much more than the earlier time. Even so, there is still a stigma connected to mental health. A stigma that prevents many people from being open up about depression. If you know someone with depression, it can be challenging to know what you can do to help them. Here in this article, I am going to share a few ways that you can help a friend who is dealing with depression.

How to support someone with depression:

Enlighten yourself

The first thing to do if you want to help someone with depression is to learn more about it. It can be very difficult to empathize with someone who is depressed without complete knowledge. There are lots of very good resources online that you can take help from. So, do some research and then you will be better prepared to offer support.

Do not take it lightly

Depression is not something that someone can burst out of. You can not fix the problem in a day. Depression is a severe illness. You cannot help a depressed person by telling them to cheer up or to pull themselves and get over it.

Be a good listener

When people get depressed, they often feel lonely. They may feel that they have no one with whom they can talk. So, be there for your close person and let them talk about what is going on in their mind. Urge them to talk about their illness, but avoid giving any quick solutions. Your support is the most crucial thing that you can offer.

Also Read: Tips to manage anger.

Urge them to get help

If a person is very depressed, they must strive for professional guidance. Some counselors can provide help. A person with extreme depression may also need to take medication to reduce their condition. Urge your friend or family to talk to their doctor. Try to make your friend/family understand that depression is a treatable disease.

Keep checking on them

A depressed person is possible to withdraw from their social circle. They may not want to socialize. Hence, keep checking on them. Invite them to social events, but avoid pushing them too hard to attend. Inviting will make your friend/family reassure that they are not forgotten.

Avoid criticizing the condition

If your friend tells you about their feelings, take it seriously. Depression is not as same as feeling sad. If you will criticize their condition, it will make your friend/family think that you are not taking their illness thoughtfully. If you have never undergone depression, you do not know anything about it at all.

At the end

Depression is a hard thing to deal with. Both for the person suffering from the illness and their friends and family. The most significant thing you can do for a friend/family with depression is to be there for them. Urge your friend/family to seek help and provide your help whenever they need it.