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How to love someone with depression
Is someone you care about experiencing a prolonged period of sadness? They may be suffering from depression. Loving someone with depression may be one of the most difficult things that you have to undertake. However, despite the challenges, you can be their anchor of hope, survival, and perhaps even recovery.
In this article, we will help you determine if someone you love may be suffering from depression and how to love someone with depression.
How To Recognize Depression
Depression manifests differently across individuals but there are some common signs that you can watch out for:
Mood swings
Lack of enthusiasm
Changes in sleeping patterns
Changes in appetite
Lack of energy
Mind fog
Suicidal thoughts
Depression may be more obvious in some than others but recognizing it is vital for addressing it and any underlying causes. Sometimes, there are reasons why a person feels depressed but this isn’t always the case. Clinical depression or major depressive disorder, for example, doesn’t have any apparent triggers. If you notice that your loved one has been having problems with work, school, relationships, and social activities for some time, it’s important to address the condition.
Accept and Address Depression
After reviewing the list above, you may have reasons to believe that someone you care about has depression. The next step is to accept the issue and address it properly. This can be a difficult and sensitive process, but with the right approach, you can help the person get the support they need to recover. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
Listen and Validate Their Feelings
Try to get your loved one to talk about their feelings. Once they do, keep an open mind and don’t minimize what they’re going through. Stay away from phrases that invalidate their suffering like “snap out of it,” “cheer up,” “this is just in your head,” and “try harder.”
Instead, tell them you care about them, ask how you might help, and show them you understand.
Encourage Them To Seek Help
When someone is depressed, they aren’t likely to have the motivation or the energy to look for doctors and get outside help. You may be their best chance at getting the help they need. This means looking for a psychiatrist who can help and even scheduling a consultation. As much as possible, make sure that they attend the appointment and offer to accompany them.
Be Patient and Understanding
Depression can last for several months and even years so it’s important that you don’t rush recovery or expect overnight results. Instead, give the person the patience, understanding, and hope they need so that they can be in a more optimistic frame of mind.
Avoid Blaming and Judging Them
Whether depression is caused by a stressful life event or an imbalance in the brain, avoid blaming and judging the person. Though we know that stress, history, and genetics play a part, the exact cause of clinical depression remains a mystery. Blame and judgment help no one, least of all the person you love.
