Looking After Someone With Depression
It’s not just the person with depression who’s affected by their illness. The people close to them are also affected.
If you’re caring for someone with depression, your relationship with them and family life in general can become strained. You may feel at a loss as to what to do. Finding a support group and talking to others in a similar situation might help.
If you’re having relationship or marriage difficulties, it might help to contact a relationship counsellor who can talk things through with you and your partner.
Men are less likely to ask for help than women and are also more likely to turn to alcohol or drugs when depressed.
Helping A Suicidal Friend Or Relative
If you see any of the above warning signs in a friend or relative:
- get professional help for them
- let them know they are not alone and you care about them
- offer support in finding other solutions to their problems
If you feel there’s an immediate danger, stay with the person or have someone else stay with them, and remove all available means of attempting suicide, such as medicine.
Over-the-counter medicine, such as painkillers, can be just as dangerous as prescription medicine. Also, remove sharp objects and poisonous household chemicals such as bleach.
When Should I Call The Doctor
Call a healthcare provider if your child has any signs of depression or anxiety. If your child is showing signs of suicide, get help right away. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. This hotline connects you to a national network of local crisis centers for free and confidential emotional support. The centers support people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, call 911.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
While it may be difficult to watch your child dealing with depression or anxiety, help is available. The right treatment can ensure your child continues to grow and thrive throughout their development. In addition to medical help, you can support your child by making sure they have a healthy environment at home, at school and in the community. Always let your child know they can communicate openly and honestly about their feelings.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/17/2020.
References
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When A Parent Is Depressed
…What kids want to know
- Guides & Publications
- When a parent is depressed … What kids want to know
Children have a lot of questions when someone in their family is sick. When the problem is about depression, it often becomes a secret that nobody talks about. When children don’t have answers to their questions, they tend to come up with their own, which may be incorrect and scary!
Every parent and child’s “beginning conversation” about depression will be different depending on the child’s age and ability to manage the information. You know your children best.
This information will help prepare you to take the first step. If you have already started talking to a child about depression, this information will give you details to keep the conversation going. It lists common questions children have about their parent’s depression, as well as suggestions for how to answer their questions.
What is depression? How does depression work?
- Depression is a disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts.
- When people are depressed, their brain works differently from when they don’t have a depression. Our brains help us to think, feel, and act in certain ways. So when people are depressed, they think, feel, and act differently from how they do when they’re well.
- Depression is not a weakness.
- Depression is a fairly common disorder, even though people don’t always talk about it.
What causes depression? How does it start?
Will the depression ever be fixed?
How To Overcome Relocation Depression
Do not despair if you fear that you may be struggling with separation anxiety, for there are a number of proven relocation depression strategies to help you find a way out of your current cul-de-sac and start enjoying your new life as you should have done by now. Some useful ideas can be found in this concise but informative article.
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Living Alone With Depression
I live alone and suffer from depression, so I would like to make this a personal account of what has helped me over the past few years and why I truly love living alone.
Living alone is far more common than it used to be, so I think its very important to do our best to view this in the most positive light possible and come up with strategies to maintain and improve our mental health short and long term.
You Become Left Out Of Family Affairs
Whether it was your sibling getting married or your parents anniversary, you lose track of important events within your family. Perhaps you can catch up with your mother on her sixtieth birthday on Facebook or Twitter. However, you still miss the joy of being with your family when they attend a major event.
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Don’t Believe Depression Myths
Don’t buy into the misconceptions about depression. Depression is not a sign of weakness or laziness. It is a biologically-based illness, most likely caused by imbalances in important mood-regulating chemicals in your brain.
You are not attention-seeking when you ask for help. You are simply trying to find the best way to hang on until you can get well. No matter what someone else says to you, don’t lose sight of these facts. It takes a great deal of courage to ask for help. So, keep asking until you find the right person.
Planning For The Future
Its not uncommon to be worried about when youll next get to see your loved ones in person. Even as restrictions start to relax, there is a great deal of uncertainty.
Think about how you want to spend your time together the next time you see each other. You could keep a list of things on your phone that you would like to experience with your loved ones, such as films to watch or meals to share.
Make theoretical plans, even if they sound mundane. Try saying things like, When its safe, Im really looking forward to going to the gym with you! This will help you to keep an optimistic outlook.
Remember to try to focus on the things you can control. It might not be safe or even possible to get on a plane or train or to go on a long trip by car right now. However, it wont always be this way.
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Keep Your Focus On What Took You To Your New Place
You may be missing friends and family, but you came to your new city for a reason to go to college, start a new job, start a family of your own, etc. So, no matter how hard it may be, focus on your reason to be here and try to make the most out of it work harder, acquire new skills, expand your knowledge, just do everything possible to advance in your career or your studies and accomplish the goals you set for yourself before the move.
In fact, being away from home will be quite beneficial for your personal development without the pressure to keep up relationships around everyone elses schedules youll be able to put more time and energy into your own goals. And the feeling of achievement and success youre going to get in the process will certainly make it much easier for you to deal with moving away from family and friends.
How Common Is Childhood Depression And Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders in children. About 7% of children ages 3 to 17 have anxiety about 3% deal with depression.
Both depression and anxiety tend to be higher in older children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17. An estimated 3.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 13.3% of the U.S. population aged 12 to 17. An estimated 31.9% of adolescents have had an anxiety disorder.
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Press Play For Advice On Self
Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring activist Erin Brockovich, shares tips on standing up for whats right, taking care of yourself, and tackling things that seem impossible. Click below to listen now.
Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / / RSS
Take It One Day At A Time
Stressing out about missing home can really interfere with your productivity at school or on the job.
Kudla recommends making lists to keep yourself on task. Start with one small thing on your to-do list.
“Put your energy into it, so your mind cares about it,” she said.
“Not only will you be more likely to be proud of the work you’ve done, but you were successfully able to withstand a small chunk of time without being worried about or missing your family. Now do it again!”
For some folks, anxiety about being away from home can be more serious than just homesickness. Some may develop
Either way, seeking help from a mental health professional can be useful for managing your fears in a new place.
” can identify the thoughts and behaviors that cause their separation anxiety,” Wind said.
They also may be able to prescribe anti-anxiety medication, if needed.
Over time, you may find that being away from home isn’t all that scary. It will become your new normal.
“You may be pleasantly surprised by how much enjoyment can come by just choosing to accept a new experience,” Reed said. “Instead of rejecting it or being anxious over it.”
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Subtle Symptoms Of Depression
The symptoms of depression often show up in a person’s life in subtle ways. Signs that a person may be experiencing depression can include:
- A messy room
- Canceling plans
- Spending all day in bed
Unfortunately, these symptoms are also easy to misinterpret. For loved ones, such behaviors can seem bewildering or even aggravating.
Friends might wonder why youre suddenly avoiding them. Your spouse might get angry that youre not doing your share around the house. Your children might be frustrated that you dont have the energy to play with them.
This is why depression is often referred to as an invisible illness. Its not something that someone can see just by looking at you. Unless you tell others what you are feeling and thinking, they may be left to infer meaning from your behavior. People arent always aware of the many symptoms that may be the result of depression.
And while you might worry about how your depression is affecting your family, your symptoms make it that much harder to get the help you need. Guilt and shame, for example, are also common symptoms of depression. Feeling that you are somehow disappointing the people you love can make those feelings worse.
Learn More About Depression
Gaining an understanding of the symptoms, causes, and treatments for depression can give you a better idea of what your loved one is dealing with. Sometimes well-meaning family members might suggest that their loved one should just snap out of it without understanding the complex forces that cause depression.
Knowing more about the illness can help family members respond in ways that are more helpful and empathetic. Work to educate yourself and your family about depression and enlist their help in your recovery.
Research has also shown that family attitudes toward treatment can also play a role in recovery outcomes. People with family members who have a positive attitude toward antidepressants, for example, may be more likely to stick to their medication regimen.
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Helplines Hotlines And Resources:
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to741741
You can and should reach out to a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, trusted doctor, community leader, and/or your friends.
If you believe you are struggling with depression, talk to your medical doctor or seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional, Whittaker says.
Reasons You Should Move Away From Home
There are a ton of reasons for moving away from parents. As you could see, in our case it is a desire to go to a good school. However, it was also connected with the wish to start living as adults. Whatever caused your decision to move away from friends and family, you should know that theres also a bright side to it:
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How Do Antidepressants Work
The most common antidepressant medications for children are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors . These medications increase the level of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that can help increase feelings of happiness and well-being.
Use extra caution with antidepressants in children. Some children show no improvement with the medications, or may even feel more depressed. If a healthcare provider recommends antidepressants, watch your childs condition closely. Never allow your child to stop taking antidepressants suddenly. Doing so can cause serious side effects or make depression worse.
Coping In Your New Destination
Beyond speaking to people in your support system, you can also try a few steps that will help to improve your mood and better acclimate to your new location. For starters, you can keep busy and your mind off of your stress by redecorating your new space to feel like home. If possible, repaint the walls your favorite colors and select a design style that reminds you of where you left, be it contemporary, rustic, or modern. You might even go furniture shopping for the perfect chair or couch that you can fall into every evening to relax.
If loneliness and meeting new people is what is causing you the most stress, then create the opportunity to meet others by attending local festivals and events, joining community Facebook groups, or even volunteering at charitable organizations. Volunteering is good for the soul and you know that the people you are working with are good at heart, so this could be the best place to meet new friends. When you meet someone, get their email or phone number and follow up with them later and invite them to coffee or another fun activity.
A lot of times, it is chaos and a lack of organization that can create anxiety, so once you have unpacked and put everything in its place, start getting back into your regular routines. That may involve calling your parents every other day or going for a run every morning. Getting out of the house and getting fresh air can do wonders for your frame of mind and you never know who you will meet during your travels.
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Create A Support Network
Establishing a network of people who care about you is a wonderful coping skill for depression. Whether they are friends, family members, co-workers or classmates, your support network can:
- Listen to your thoughts and feelings
- Offer you helpful, personal feedback
- Engage in fun activities with you
- Provide affection and comfort through physical contact like hugs
- Reassure you during moments of frustration
- Keep you focused and motivated to achieve your goals
Support networks are great, but they can sometimes be hard to come by, especially if your depression prevents you from wanting to be around people. Sometimes when people are depressed, they push away helpful supports and choose isolation. Periodically check-in with friends so they can recognize the signs depression-driven social isolationism and act on it when they realize what is happening.
Supports groups are another way to expand your network. Available depression support groups like the National Alliance on Mental Illness peer-education programs or Depression Recovery Groups offer online and in-person options.
Effects Of The Great Depression
The Great Depression occurred between 1929 and 1939. The worst years were 1932 and 1933, and after that things slowly started to improve, but it would take years until the Depression finally came to a complete end.
The effects of The Great Depression were severe. Unemployment was at an all time high with more people losing their jobs everyday. Businesses closed. Banks were going bankrupt which meant even people who were thrifty and wise with their money lost their savings they had put in the bank they trusted. People were evicted from their homes and were literally starving.
Even farmers who were growing their own food suffered in some areas due to drought. The drought was so severe that it caused major dust storms that destroyed crops and killed livestock. The severe dry period that triggered the dust storms was named The Dust Bowl.
Its hard to imagine all these people went through. I look at my kids and I try to picture what it would be like to not know how I was going to feed them. I dont know what I would do, but I can tell you that it would take everything within me not to absolutely fall apart.
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Living Far Away From Family Is Hard
May 4, 2016 By Heather
When you are far away from home and your family, your perspective begins to change.
You have no choice but to become independent, and you finally learn what family really means. You use your vacation time to visit home instead of travel, and you learn to appreciate the little things. You second guess your choice to move away, and you feel lonely at times.
But, what I have learned over the past three and a half years of living away from my hometown is that your family stays with you. They may not be physically close to you, but they follow you wherever you go. And, friends can be family, too.
When I first started dating my husband, I made it clear that I never wanted to leave the state of Florida. Sure, living in other parts of the country or world sounded cool, but it just wasnt something that I felt called to do. I grew up in Orlando, and as far as I was concerned, that was a good life for me.
There werent many seasons growing up in the Sunshine State, but there was sunshine. A lot of sunshine. Being so close to the coast quickly turned me into a beach lover, and I will always chose a tropical vacation over a weekend getaway in the mountains.
I loved living in Florida, and I never pictured myself enjoying life outside of that comfortable, Southern bubble.
Fast forward to today, and I am writing this from our new apartment in Brooklyn, New York.
We absolutely love it here.
Living far from family and childhood friends is hard.