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| *Women health>>>Depression |
Friend is very depressed. How do I help her get out of depression? |
My friend is very, VERY depressed because she has lost at least one friend each year. They are lost because they move away. This year, she is losing three friends, and she is very depressed and can't think positive about anything. She really wants to not be depressed too, but she's not sure how she can get over her depression. Please, help me find a way to make her happy again and not so depressed. Please Just let her know that you are her friend and that thing, places and people come and go it is part of the amazing mysterious beauty and pain that is life. You cant have gain without loss, but let her know that she needs to remember the good times and learn to grow and move on she can still stay in touch if they are great friends and she will always make more. They will be different but she has already dealt with change. So in short note be a shoulder for her to cry on an ear for her to talk to and a friend. The rest she will have to figure out. I hope this helps, I have moved around my whole life so I can understand the solitude feelings, but they go away after a while. She has to want to feel better. Don't be so quick to "make" her feel better because having feelings is normal after a loss- it's called grief. If you encourage her to feel better so fast, she may learn to never deal with her feelings. Help her remember and then move on. Prozac, paxil or one of those antidepressants. Remind her that she had to make the friends before she could "lose them". If you know how to make friends, you can make new friends. Plus, moving away is not like dying. Anyway, listen and pay attention to your friend and don't allow her to do anything stupid, OK? All you can do is encourage her, support her, and try to convince her to discuss it with her doctor. That is about it. In the end, the only person that can get her out of her depression is HER, but she has to be willing to take the steps that are necessary. Perhaps you can get online and download some information on depression to help her better understand what she is going through and to encourage her to seek the professional help that she probably needs. Good luck! First of all, you can't MAKE your friend not depressed. You can support her in feeling better, but there's nothing YOU can do specifically to make her feel better. It's up to her. I know first hand what it's like to lose friends as they move away. Unfortunately we have to accept that change is inevitable, and accept that people are making choices that are not necessarily positive for us. She can keep in touch with them, maybe even visit them to lessen the grief over time. She needs to look at widening her circle of friends. Or lessening her dependence on her friends. As my friends have moved on, I've increased my outside interests to try and meet more people and stay busy. That's the key, I think, staying busy. Apart from that, there's nothing wrong with taking antidepressants even for a short-moderate length of time while she works through these feelings. She could see a doctor if she feels she needs help with her depression. Otherwise, just give it time. The support and involvement of family and friends can be crucial in helping someone who is depressed. It is especially helpful if family and friends encourage the patient to stick with treatment and practice the coping techniques and problem-solving skills he or she is learning during psychotherapy Make sure that your loved one is evaluated and treated by a trained mental health professional. This is essential to properly diagnose depression and find the right kind of treatment. Educate yourself, your family, and friends about mental health problems and depression in particular. This will help you understand what you loved one is experiencing. Someone with depression needs constant support. This can be draining, especially if it lasts for long periods of time. It is, however, one of the most important parts of successful treatment. People with depression can feel alone and isolated -- giving consistent support and understanding are critical. Help the person with depression to stick to his or her treatment plan. This means making sure that medicines are available if prescribed, attending therapy sessions with the person if needed, helping make recommended lifestyle changes, and encouraging the person to follow up with the proper healthcare provider, especially if the treatment needs to be adjusted. Recognize that depression is often expressed as hostility, rejection, and irritability. Adopt an interaction style that puts the depressed person in charge. For example, instead of suggesting, "Let's go to the movies tonight," try this: "I'd like to see a movie tonight. Which one of these do you want to see with me?" Encourage the depressed person to seek professional help. Accompany and support your loved one, but make it clear that it is his or her responsibility to get better. Remember that treatment is very effective and your loved one will improve with treatment within a few months. Support opportunities for the depressed person to be rewarded, such as visiting friends or going out for activities. Don't force these, though. Make sure you notice and praise any significant improvement. Be genuine. Leave time for yourself and your own needs. Take breaks from the depressed person from time to time. It will help both of you. Consider family or marital therapy: these forms of therapy may be beneficial in bringing together all those affected by depression and helping them learn effective ways to cope together. Consider turning to support groups, either for the depressed person, or for you as his or her family member. |
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