Tips to Support a Family Member Dealing with Depression

We all know that depression is difficult,not just for those who are suffering from it, but also those close to them. If you’re looking to help someone in your family or social circles who is depressed, there are certainly some things you can do. If a person close to you has depression, this post offers 11 tips on how to support them without letting it get the best of you as well.

1. Find out what the person needs. For some, they just need other people to know they are there for them. For others, it helps if you can offer them advice regarding their career or relationships. Someone else may just want someone to talk with about their feelings for a few hours because they feel comfortable talking with you. If you’re not certain what kind of support your friend or family member needs, ask them outright! Also, you should be listening to what they are saying, not just what you think they want to say.

2. Accept them for who they are. There is nothing wrong with the way depression makes someone feel. Regardless of your knowledge about it, the person dealing with depression is still the same person inside and no criticism or commentary should ever be directed towards them for their behavior as a result of their mental health condition. Try not to judge your friends or family members when you start talking about depression with them; don’t apologize for how depressed they seem and don’t expect them to act any different than how you’d like them to act (that’s how it feels anyway).

3. Take care of yourself. You’re already great support for your loved one, but now you need to look out for yourself as well. Be conscious and aware of your own reactions to what’s happening with them and don’t let their condition drag you down as well. Stay positive and encourage the person you are helping to recognize their own positive qualities. Let them know that life will get better, even if they have their doubts about it. You can only do so much, but remember that you can’t save someone from depression or take it away from them; you can only be there for them when they need a friend to lean on, even though that may be all they want at the moment. If you are finding it tough, you can lookout for support groups or support group workshops like caretaker workshop.

4. Encourage them to seek professional help. If a depressed family member or friend isn’t wanting for advice on how to cope, encourage them to go see a psychologist or psychotherapist so they can get the help they need. If conventional mental health therapy is not enough, you can also try creative art therapies like art therapy workshop, music therapy workshop, drama therapy workshop, movement therapy workshop and so on. 

5. Do not make light of it. If someone you know is depressed, try not to make light of it or even joke about it. This only seems to exacerbate symptoms and makes others feel uncomfortable as well; often leading them not to have the courage to share their struggle with you or anyone else for that matter. You wouldn’t want someone you care about making fun of her weight or anything else that makes her feel different, so why would you want her to do the same thing when she’s being treated for depression?

6. Don’t isolate them. It’s important that you don’t make your depressed friend or family member feel like they are alone in what is happening. They need the support of the people around them, too. That’s why it’s so important to get them involved in whatever activities you enjoy, whether that be sports or hobbies. Encourage your depressed friend or family member to join in as well and just keep doing things together as a group, even if they don’t necessarily enjoy doing all of it with you.

7. Let them know you love them. Depression is a lonely condition and it’s important that those around the depressed person know they are loved – and that they should not feel ashamed of anything. You have to show them you care and support them in order for the relationship to work; don’t be afraid to show your emotions in front of your friend or family member. If they see you’re human with flaws, they will realize they’re not alone.

8. Be kind, even if they’re not. Depression is a very sensitive condition, so while you may want to be angry or upset with your depressed friend or family member at times, try not to let it get the best of you. Remember that this is just a phase and that eventually the person you know will be back to their old self, even if it’s only for a few days at a time.

9. Don’t think they owe you anything. Depression is not a matter of right or wrong; it’s in the person dealing with depression and their therapist’s hands to make things move forward. There is no such thing as an expected date or amount of time they will be depressed, so don’t expect them to get better after a certain period of time. They are the only ones responsible for their condition and how they’re handling it, not you.

10. Ditch the guilt. It’s not your fault that someone you know suffers from depression. If you’ve done everything in your power to help them, then let it go. Otherwise, you will only make things worse for yourself and for them. You’ll start to feel like you’re not doing enough or that they should be grateful for your assistance and you won’t realize until it’s too late how wrong you’re thinking.

11. Don’t compare them to others. You can’t help someone else, no matter how much you might want to. You may not be in a position to help your friend or family member, but you should always be there for them when they need you the most. No matter what age or life stage we’re in, people struggle with depression and it’s important we all make an effort to get the support our friends and family members need, even if they seem like they’re fine on the outside.

Takeaway

If you’re looking to help your loved one deal with depression, remember that they need you. Help them find support and guidance from qualified professionals, surround them with people who care about them and make sure to do whatever you can to maintain a positive attitude.

Mahar Deepa

Deepa Mahar is an independent blogger and admin of DeepAdvices who is exploring the beauty of the blog writing from a variety of subjects and books to health, science and others. She believes the blog would be helpful to the reader in the context of knowledge. She is post-graduated with a degree of Biotechnology.