Dealing With People With Depression

Know The Different Forms Depression Can Take

Depression often involves sadness or a low mood, but it also has other, less well-known symptoms.

For example, many people dont realize depression can involve:

• confusion, difficulties with memory, or difficulty focusing
• excessive fatigue or sleep concerns
• physical symptoms such as stomach distress, frequent headaches, or back and other muscle pain

Your friend may often seem to be in a bad mood, or feel exhausted a lot of the time. Try to keep in mind that what theyre feeling is still part of depression, even if it doesnt fit into the stereotypical versions of depression.

Even if you dont know how to help them feel better, simply saying Im sorry youre feeling this way. Im here to help if theres anything I can do may help.

Ways To Help A Friend With Depression Or Anxiety

If you want to be there for someone whos dealing with depression or anxiety, youre already being a great friend. It can be hard to know exactly how to help someone with depression or anxiety, and what to say to someone who’s having a rough time. Remember that each person is different, and while these tips are a guide, when helping a friend with depression or anxiety, its important to talk with your friend about what they feel they need.

Taking A Stance On Medication

Medication can be very helpful for depression, but it doesnt work well for everyone.

Some people dislike its side effects and prefer to treat depression with therapy or natural remedies. Even if you think your friend should take an antidepressant, remember that choosing to take medication is a personal decision.

Likewise, if you personally dont believe in medication, avoid the subject when talking with them. For some people, medication is key in getting them to a place where they can fully engage in therapy and start taking steps toward recovery.

At the end of the day, whether or not someone with depression takes medication is a very personal decision thats generally best left to them and their healthcare professional.

Depression can increase a persons risk of suicide or self-injury, so its helpful to know how to recognize the signs.

Some signs that might indicate your friend is having serious suicidal thoughts include:

• frequent mood or personality changes
• talking about death or dying
• purchasing a weapon
• getting rid of belongings or giving away treasured possessions
• talking about feeling trapped or wanting a way out
• pushing people away or saying they want to be left alone
• saying goodbye with more feeling than usual

If you think your friend is considering suicide, urge them to call their therapist while youre with them or ask your friend if you can call for them.

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Dealing With The Winter Blues

For some people, the reduced daylight hours of winter lead to a form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder . SAD can make you feel like a completely different person to who you are in the summer: hopeless, sad, tense, or stressed, with no interest in friends or activities you normally love. No matter how hopeless you feel, though, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your mood stable throughout the year.

Tip : Eat A Healthy Depression

What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Reduce your intake of foods that can adversely affect your brain and mood, such as caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, and foods with high levels of chemical preservatives or hormones .

Dont skip meals. Going too long between meals can make you feel irritable and tired, so aim to eat something at least every three to four hours.

Minimize sugar and refined carbs. You may crave sugary snacks, baked goods, or comfort foods such as pasta or French fries, but these feel-good foods quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy. Aim to cut out as much of these foods as possible.

Boost your B vitamins. Deficiencies in B vitamins such as folic acid and B-12 can trigger depression. To get more, take a B-complex vitamin supplement or eat more citrus fruit, leafy greens, beans, chicken, and eggs.

Boost your mood with foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.Omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in stabilizing mood. The best sources are fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, tuna, and some cold-water fish oil supplements.

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What To Do If Your Friend Has Suicidal Thoughts

If you are concerned your friend may harm themselves,dont dismiss your gut. Instead:

• Pay attentionto anything said about suicide, other forms of self-harm or a world thatdoesnt include them.
• Keep the lines of communication openso they know they can talk to you when they have these feelings.
• Encourage themto get professional help.

That help may include outpatient therapy and psychotropic medications prescribed by their primary care doctor or a psychiatrist. If you think your friend is in immediate danger, call 911 or take your friend to the nearest emergency department.

Remember: Your friends situation is not hopeless. Like other illnesses, depression can be treated with the right medical help and the support of friends like you.

Signs That Someone May Be Depressed

Depression has lots of possible symptoms.

You may notice that someone:

• has lost interest in doing things they normally enjoy
• seems to be feeling down or hopeless
• has slower speech and movements or is more fidgety and restless than usual
• feels tired or does not have much energy
• is overeating or has lost their appetite
• is sleeping more than usual or is not able to sleep
• has trouble concentrating on everyday things, such as watching TV or reading the paper

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How Do I Talk To Someone About Their Depression

It can be challenging to discuss someones depression with them, especially if they experience guilt, shame, or embarrassment about it. When talking to a person about their depression, the goal is to bring up your concerns without causing them more shame. It is important to:

• Express empathy and concern. Empathy is the ability to understand another person by stepping into their shoes. Its different from sympathy or pity, which involves feeling sorry for another person. Try to communicate your understanding by focusing on your concerns. You can start with Im worried about you.

• Listen to their point of view. Once you express your concerns, be open to hearing how they feel. Give them an opportunity to respond and try your best to just listen, without offering unwanted advice. It is OK to give advice if the person asks for it, but until then resist the urge to share your own opinions.

• Ask them how you can help. Instead of offering your own solutions, ask them how they would like you to help them. If theyre unsure, you can offer a few ideas, but give them the power to choose. You may consider suggesting a positive activity, therapy, medication, or a support group.

• Be patient. Recovering from depression does not happen overnight. After your discussion, you may expect the person to change right away, but that is unrealistic. Instead, practice patience and allow them to make changes on their own terms, but do check in from time to time about how theyre doing.

Sleeping Patterns And Depression

Depression can disrupt sleep patterns. Its essential to try to restore a regular sleep pattern to make a full recovery. Some tips for restoring a regular sleep pattern include:

• Try to go to sleep and get up at about the same time each day.
• If youre worrying about things during the night, set aside some time for problem solving during the day.
• Avoid drinking caffeine after 4 pm and try not to drink more than two cups of caffeine-type drinks each day.
• Avoid using alcohol to help you sleep. As the alcohol is broken down in your body, it causes you to sleep less deeply and to wake more frequently.
• Allow yourself time to wind down before going to bed. If you are working or studying, stop at least 30 minutes before bedtime and do something relaxing.
• Give your mind a break from online activity such as social media for an hour before bedtime, and consider putting your phone in a separate room from your bedroom at night time.

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Where Can I Find Clinical Trials For Depression

Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so others may receive better help in the future.

Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health and around the country conduct many studies with patients and healthy volunteers. Talk to your health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you. For more information, visit NIMH’s clinical trials information.

Applying Tested Breakthroughs In Neuroscience To Mental Wellness

There is nobody size fits all technique to work out for depression. They will certainly recommend appropriate workout alternatives dealing with depression after an injury based on your personal circumstances. High-intensity exercise releases feel-good chemicals or endorphins into the body.

Exercise strolling, yoga, horticulture or any kind of exercise that interest you can aid to alleviate symptoms of depression. Certain prescription medications can cause signs and dealing with depression after an injury symptoms that mimic depression. Adjustments in the brain.PD and also depression affect the exact same physical components of the brain involved in assuming and also emotion.

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Focus On Positive Outcomes And Criticize Less

People who are depressed can be highly self-critical. Rather than highlighting failures, focus on supporting and celebrating moments of achievement, such as when employees meet deadlines. Moreover, research shows that people who are criticized by someone whom they perceive as highly critical of them are less able to activate neurocircuits that control negative emotions.

Motivation in depressed employees plummets in the face of threats and punishment. Research suggests that explaining the positive necessity of assignments as a motivation tool is far more effective than sharing the detrimental costs of an unfinished project. Framing assignments in terms of benefits and importance increases their perceived appeal and strengthens intrinsic motivation in employees.

If your employee continues to drop the ball, you may be tempted either to assign to the employee menial tasks, or to penalize the employee with exceptionally difficult tasks that force the employee to work harder. In reality, its possible that your employee feels as though either one of these scenarios has already occurred. Check in with your employees regularly and make sure the work assignments match the current abilities and talents of your staff.

Additionally, know the strengths of your employees and play to those strengths. If your employees feel like tasks are designed for them, theyll be more likely to view the tasks as important, complete them more quickly, and experience a sense of validation.

Tips For Helping Someone With Depression Get Treatment

If someone you know is depressed, there are ways to encourage them to get help. However, you dont want to force or pressure them into anything, because this could cause them to say no. Instead, you will want to gently suggest that they get help, while giving them the power to make the decision.

When discussing treatment for depression with a person, consider the following:

• Know the treatment options available. Before discussing treatment with a person, do some research on local mental health professionals, treatment centers, and support groups. You can even call ahead to ask about the admissions process, but dont book an appointment without their permission.

• Ask the person if they would be open to getting help. Rather than demanding that they seek help, ask if it is something that they would consider. If they seem reluctant, you can remind them that they can take time to think about it. Do not pressure them to make a decision on the spot.

• If they seem resistant, ask why without passing judgement. They may tell you that they are nervous, unsure of how to get help, or hopeless that treatment can help them. Depending upon their answer, you can offer support, reassurance, and provide more information to help ease their concerns.

• Ask the person if there is any way that you can help. If theyre unsure, you can offer some suggestions, like helping them schedule an appointment or going with them to their first appointment.

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Tip : Get A Daily Dose Of Sunlight

Sunlight can help boost serotonin levels and improve your mood. Whenever possible, get outside during daylight hours and expose yourself to the sun for at least 15 minutes a day. Remove sunglasses and use sunscreen as needed.

• Take a walk on your lunch break, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, or spend time gardening.
• Double up on the benefits of sunlight by exercising outside. Try hiking, walking in a local park, or playing golf or tennis with a friend.
• Increase the amount of natural light in your home and workplace by opening blinds and drapes and sitting near windows.
• If you live somewhere with little winter sunshine, try using a light therapy box.

Ways You Can Help A Friend With Depression

10 Ways You Can Help a Friend with Depression

Depression can affect anyone. Yet, it is still an illness that many people don’t understand. People talk about mental illness much more than they used to. Even so, there is still a stigma attached to mental health. A stigma that prevents many people from being open about depression. If you have a friend with depression, it can be difficult to know what you can do to help them. Here are ten ways that you can help a friend who is suffering from depression.

1. Educate Yourself

The first thing to do if you want to help someone with depression is to learn more about the illness. If you have never suffered from depression, it can be very difficult to empathize with someone who is. There are lots of very good resources online that you can refer to. So, do some research and then you will be much better equipped to offer your friend help and support.

2. Take It Seriously

Depression is not something that someone can snap out of. You can’t fix the problem with one good night out, for example. When you are talking to someone with depression, don’t try to make light of the condition. Depression is a serious illness. You won’t be able to help a depressed person by telling them to cheer up or to pull themselves together and get over it.

3. Become a Good Listener

4. Encourage Them to Get Help

5. Offer Practical Help

6. Keep Them in The Loop

7. Don’t Try to Be an Expert

8. Don’t Belittle the Condition

10. Be Patient

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As A Therapy For Depression

No content on this website, despite date, ought to ever before be utilized as an alternative for straight medical guidance from your physician or various other qualified medical professional dealing depression your own. A much reduced dose of ketamine is given for depression compared to the dose required for anesthetic. Long-lasting or regular use of ketamine might have added negative effects.

What Causes Depression

The exact cause of depression is unknown. It may be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.2 Everyone is different but the following factors may increase a persons chances of becoming depressed:1

• Having blood relatives who have had depression
• Experiencing traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death of a loved one, or financial problems
• Going through a major life change even if it was planned
• Having a medical problem, such as cancer, stroke, or chronic pain
• Taking certain medications. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether your medications might be making you feel depressed.
• Using alcohol or drugs

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Help Them Find Support

Your friend may not be aware theyre dealing with depression, or they may be unsure how to reach out for support.

Even if they know therapy could help, it can be daunting to search for a therapist and make an appointment.

If your friend seems interested in counseling, offer to help them review potential therapists. You can help your friend list things to ask potential therapists and things they want to mention in their first session.

Encouraging them and supporting them to make that first appointment can be so helpful if theyre having a hard time with it.

Acknowledgment And Therapy Of Depression

The guidelines with reduced CAM scaled scores typically had vague, if any, health inquiries details to webcam as contrasted to certain health questions detailed for the non-CAM treatments. At the same time, the target populations were usually well-defined for all guidelines as well as there was no distinction made in between the target population for camera versus non-CAM treatments. The ordinary evaluation scores dealing depression your own and also ordinary total assessments relating to usage for each of the 16 guidelines with camera suggestions are shown in Supplemental File3. The typical evaluation ratings and also average general evaluations concerning use for every of the 16 guidelines with webcam referrals exist in Supplemental File3.

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