You love your family and friends, and you want to help. But what if your loved one is going through depression? How can you support them without making things worse? Here are some tips for supporting a loved one with depression:
Don’t Be Afraid To Show Love And Affection
When you’re dealing with a loved one who is going through depression, it’s important to remember that you can still show them love and affection. You should not be afraid to ask questions or share your feelings with them. Dr Michael Vivian If they are someone who doesn’t want to talk about their feelings or thoughts, then try asking open-ended questions instead of ones that require a specific answer.
Don’t be afraid to talk about things in general and see how they respond; this will allow the two of you some time together without having too much pressure on either party involved (the person suffering from depression and yourself).
Be Patient
Patience is a virtue. The fact that you are reading this post, and want to help your loved one get better shows that you are already being patient. According to Dr Michael Vivian, the best thing you can do is continue being patient and let the recovery process take its own time! Don’t rush it; there’s no need to force someone into recovery when they are not ready yet.
Ask How You Can Help Instead Of Making Demands Or Complaints
If you’re dealing with a loved one who has depression, it’s important to remember that they don’t need your help. They need your love and support. When you say things like “I’m going to fix this” or “I’ll do whatever I have to do,” it can come across as demanding or critical instead of supportive.
Instead of telling them what they should do and how they should feel, ask questions like: How can I help? What do you need from me? Are there any resources that would be helpful for me to learn about depression so that I can better understand what’s going on for you right now?
