Depression. How to help and what not to say

I‘m not an expert but I have spent most of my life around people with depression and anxiety. If someone you care about is struggling here are some pearls of wisdom I’ve gleaned over the years.

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I have experience of depression and anxiety from both sides — the sufferer and the person trying to help. Believe me, neither side is a picnic! Depression in a particular can be a very selfish illness. At times it can be hard not to get frustrated however much you care about the person. I get it. Sometimes you’ll have to take a moment to give yourself a break. That’s ok! Self-care and taking time for yourself are both vital for everyone. It’s even more so when someone else is leaning on you.

Depression

If a person you care about is depressed and they haven’t already done so encourage them to talk to a doctor. The majority of people suffering even moderate depression will not be able to lift themselves out of it on their own. Help of some kind is needed whether it’s medication or counselling or both. If the person has severe depression you may need to call the doctor for them. Symptoms of this are not eating, sleeping, washing, or taking care of themselves at all