Dealing With Depression Helping someone who is depressed might be difficult. If you know someone depressed, you could feel helpless and uncertain of what to do. Learn how to be there for your loved one, how to be supportive and empathetic, and how to help them receive the tools they need to deal with their depression. What you can do is as follows.
1. Recognize the signs of depression
The indications and symptoms of depression differ from person to person. They may consist of:
.Sadness, tearfulness, emptiness, or a sense of hopelessness
.Outbursts of rage, irritation, or impatience, even over trivial issues
.Loss of enjoyment or interest in most or all regular activities, including sex, hobbies, and sports
.insomnia or excessive snoozing
.Due to fatigue and a lack of energy, even simple tasks need more effort
.Alterations in appetite, such as a decreased hunger and weight loss or an increased appetite and weight gain
A feeling of unease, anxiety, or worry
.Slowness in speech, thought, or action
.Feelings of worthlessness or remorse, dwelling on mistakes from the past or blaming oneself for errors you didn’t make
.Problems with memory, concentration, decision-making, and thought
.mention of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or death regularly
.Undiagnosed physical issues like headaches or back pain
Many depressed individuals typically experience symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with daily activities including job, school, social interactions, or interpersonal relationships. Others could experience overall misery or unhappiness without understanding why. young people and teens may show depression by being irritable or cranky rather than sad.
2. Promote healthcare
Sad people cannot be aware of or admit their depression. They could believe their sentiments are normal since they are unaware of the warning signs and symptoms of depression.
People incorrectly assume they should be able to cure their depression with effort alone because they feel humiliated about it all too often. But without treatment, depression rarely gets better and sometimes gets worse. The person you care about may improve with the appropriate course of treatment.
What you can do to help is as follows:
.Inform the person of your observations and your concerns
.Describe how depression is a medical problem, not a character flaw or weakness, and how treatment can typically make it better
.Suggest contacting a professional for assistance, such as a medical doctor or a mental health specialist like a licensed counselor or psychologist.
.Offer to assist in creating a list of inquiries to go over during the first consultation with a physician or mental health professional. READ ALSO : Treatment-resistant depression?
Set up appointments, accompany them, and attend family therapy sessions to demonstrate your readiness to assist.
Contact a doctor, a hospital, or emergency medical services if your loved one’s illness is severe or could be fatal.
3. Detect indicators of depression that are getting worse.
Every person has a unique experience with depression. Take note of your loved one. Learn how depression affects your friend or family member and what to do if it worsens.
Think about these concerns:
.What usual warning signs and symptoms have you seen in your friend or relative?
.When depression is worse, what actions or words do you notice?
.What actions or verbal expressions do you notice when he or she is functioning well?
.What situations lead to bouts of more severe depression?
.Which hobbies help the most when depression becomes worse?
Depression that is getting worse must be treated as soon as feasible. Encourage your loved one to develop a plan for what to do when signs and symptoms reach a specific threshold with the help of his or her physician or mental health practitioner. Your loved one might have to: as part of this strategy:
.To inquire about altering or switching drugs, call your doctor.
.Consult a psychotherapist, such as a licensed psychologist or counselor
.Make sure you consume healthy meals, get enough sleep, and engage in physical activity as self-care measures.
4. Watch out for suicide warning signs.
Recognize the warning symptoms of suicide or suicidal thoughts and remain vigilant:
.Making statements like “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead,” or “I wish I hadn’t been born” when discussing suicide. READ MORE: Relapse in Depression
.acquiring the tools necessary to attempt suicide, such as purchasing a pistol or amassing drugs
.withdrawing from social interaction and requesting alone
.Having mood swings, such as being highly emotional one day and extremely depressed the next
.Having an obsession with dying, death, or violence
.feeling imprisoned or helpless in a circumstance
.Intensifying drug or alcohol use
.Changing regular routines, such as ones related to eating or sleeping,
.committing self-destructive or risky acts, such as abusing drugs or operating a vehicle carelessly
.giving away possessions or organizing affairs when there is no other logical justification for doing so
Leaving them with the expectation that you won’t see them again
.Changing personality traits or being extremely agitated or nervous, primarily when exhibiting some of the warning indications mentioned above
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