What to Do When Feeling Depressed and How to Help Someone with Depression
In order to get help for depression you need to know that you can’t do it yourself. This isn’t always an easy fix to how to not be depressed. The difference between depression and sadness is that depression is an actual medical condition, not just an emotion. This means that you need to get help for depression. Otherwise it can really spiral out of control. You can try talking to your doctor or going to therapy. Otherwise it can be a vicious cycle that can completely overtake your life and might last for several years. Instead learn how to overcome depression.
The first thing you need to know is that there is only so much that you can do alone when figuring out how to not be depressed. In fact, your depression might get worse or really compound if you try to do a lot of different self improvement techniques. Many of tips on the books or Internet advise you to consult with a doctor before trying it and there’s a reason for this. However, once you get medical treatment you’re going to be on the right track and in a much better place to start sifting through the self help world. I advocate self help and improvement for almost anything; so if I’m saying that this isn’t the place for it then you know it’s a big deal.
What to Do When Feeling Depressed
If you’re wondering what to do when depressed, then the first thing you’re going to need to do is really assess how depressed you are. If you’re having any thoughts of suicide. Then it’s definitely time to get professional help.
When you’re depressed it can be difficult to see the effect that it has on other people. People around you might feel powerless to help you. They might tell you things that make it worse such as “Just be happy”. However, if you have a friend who is depressed the first step is just to make sure that they are getting proper medical care. Then, don’t rush them or have unreasonable expectations. Just be a constant source of comfort in their life; but set boundaries so you don’t get burned out or start feeling like a doormat. Believe that help is out there both for you and the person you care about and then you’ll be on the right track because then you’re empowered enough to go find it.
How to Help Someone with Depression
If a loved one is feeling depressed the same rule applies with self help for depression. Encourage them to get help. Drive them to the doctor and go with them if they are self-conscious or afraid. Don’t try to treat it yourself. It’s also important not to patronize the person. Don’t say things like “just be happy”. If they were capable of doing this then they probably would. However, depression in its simplest form is really losing that ability.
You can also take cues from the person to learn how to help someone with depression. They will often tell you things that they may need help for depression with. You can encourage them to go out with friends but you can also just really watch for signs that doing so gives them anxiety. It takes awhile to figure out how to overcome depression. Remember that this is different than getting stuck in a rut. This is something that makeovers or new hobbies aren’t really going to fix. Don’t just minimize the problem because you definitely don’t want the person to go into a state where they feel like they have to pretend around you.