6 things you should never tell to someone with depression and 7 tips that can help

If a friend or loved one is talking to you about their depression, it is very important for them to know that you are supporting them.

If they hear you say this, they may stop saying anything at all, even as their condition gets worse. The more you say that, the more they are going to tune you out too.

Depression is the result of a biochemical imbalance in the brain, not a lack of willpower.

Your friend definitely wishes they could just “snap out of it” but it is not that easy. It is a disease, and they can no more snap their way to better health than they could undo a cold, or cancer.

Sometimes, honestly, being friends with a person who is suffering from depression can feel like being friends with a person who is falling down a deep hole, while you are reaching out and trying to pull them back.

But if you think about it, the person is falling down that hole already. Shouldn’t you focus more on pulling them up again than the risk of falling yourself?

While it is true that fresh air and sunshine can help boost endorphin levels and mood, saying this the wrong way is cruel and ignores the blunt reality of how pervasive a depressive condition really is.

Just going outside will not help a person feel better unless they have the support network behind them to change the depressive condition altogether.

Chances are, the person suffering from depression does not want a pity party. They are suffering from a medical condition, not an excess of self-pity.

Treating them as if they are just out for some quick pity makes them feel as if their suffering is not wanted and should be taken far away. You do not want them to just stop the pity party—depression is the leading cause of suicide, and a major reason why those with depression commit suicide is they feel that their family and friends would be better off without them.

Those are all things that we should not say to people who are suffering from depression. But, if we want to help, what are some useful things that those suffering from depression could benefit from hearing?

If a person suffering from depression is willing to open up and talk, they are taking a huge psychological risk. They are probably scared of being belittled, or maybe they have heard those six things too many times.

So listen up. Active listening means not just listening to say what is on your mind, but to really hear and respond to what the person is saying. When a person is suffering from depression, oftentimes, that is all they really want out of you.

You may not know the right thing to say, but there are professionals who do. Those people may be the best qualified to help.

By suggesting that they seek outside help, you show that you understand how serious their suffering is. Very likely they cannot sleep, they have lost their appetite, or are feeling severely down for days and days, and just want it to stop. The best way to do so is to have a professional help them through their depression.

Some people with depression think that it is something they should be able to hide, or work their way through. Talking to you is a first step in getting more help.

By recommending professional help you can make a major difference in their lives.

As a trusted friend, you are in a unique position to explain the benefits of seeking help.

It can be tough for people who are suffering from depression to understand any benefits to medication or therapy. Their disease prevents them from feeling any hope for change. By presenting those options, you can break through the mental fog.

They are reaching out to you, and the best thing you can do is lend your full support.

By simply giving them a phone number to a depression hotline or referring a quality psychiatrist, you can simplify the process. Very often people suffering from depression are too stymied by their disease to take action without extra prodding and this would be greatly appreciated.

Sunshine, exercise, and being in the outdoors have all been shown to help with depression symptoms.

As we said before, just saying it isn’t enough. It is better to offer to join them on the walk, or invite them on a trip to the park. The human interaction plus the outdoors is even better than walking solo.

Many people will avoid a person suffering from depression because they feel that hanging out with that person is too much of a downer. Maybe they are afraid that by spending extra time they will be dragged down too, like a contagious disease.

That is why it is so important to hang out with and continue to engage friends who are suffering from depression. It lets them know, firmly, that despite what their brain is telling them about how worthless they are, you still care.
Source: upworthy.com