two young and stylish African American men in the city smiling and talking. father and adult son relationship
As mental health becomes more and more talked about, you may find that you know more people suffering from depression than you initially thought. We all want to support our friends and loved ones when they are suffering, but we may not always know the right thing to say. Is there even a right thing to say? We want to help them feel better, fix their problems, and take away their pain. Unknowingly to us though, sometimes our good meaning words can actually make the situation worse and hurt more than help. Here are some general bits of advice to help your interactions with your friends and loved ones go a bit smoother.
Don’t
Even though you may not experience or understand depression, you can make a conscious effort to learn how to communicate with those you care about in a way that is helpful and supportive. Try to never minimize their feelings; even if their feelings or reactions may differ from yours, they are valid and need to be acknowledged and respected. Also, don’t dismiss their symptoms, deny their feelings, compare their feelings to others, and never call them selfish for struggling with depressive feelings. These are all relatively simple things that you can do to help support someone who is dealing with depression. Small, meaningful interactions can end up making a big impact.
Do
A good way to support those with depression is to be willing to listen without judgment and just being there for them when they need someone to lean on. Ask how you can help or what type of support they need from you. Everyone is unique and needs different things from their support system at different times. Understanding what your loved one needs from you helps you understand what to say and what to do to help. Another helpful thing to do would be to offer to help with chores and errands. For some people suffering from depression, chores and errands can become extremely challenging. When in doubt, show empathy and a willingness to try to understand how they are feeling.
When someone close to us is suffering from depression, we want to help. We want to be able to make them feel better. One simple way we can do that is to be mindful of our words and actions. It’s important to remember to be supportive and non-judgmental about how they are feeling, even if you do not fully understand what they are going through. Whether you are the one experiencing depression, or you are a support system for someone suffering, we at The Guest House are here to help. Call us today to learn more about our different treatment options at (855) 483-7800.