Depression Learning

Family can be the Best Support for Depressed Individuals

Depression is a debilitating illness that can really alter the state of mind and the body of the afflicted. Sometimes your family member seems to transform in a completely different person right before you eyes and sometimes the progression is so slow that you hardly notice until one day a stranger is staring back at you and you wonder where your loved one went. Depression will change the emotions and the thinking of your loved one, it will change how he or she acts, what he or she likes to do and even such routine things as personal hygiene. Depressed individuals are just a fraction of their former selves but regardless of how strange they may be acting, even if they are distancing themselves from you, you need to know that they do not want to be and feel this way. They are not punishing you they are punishing themselves. Your loved one wants to be the person you knew before the depression, but just doesn’t know how. You can help your loved one by getting the help needed from a doctor or therapist. Depression medications and depression therapy can do a lot of good and with the right therapy and or medication, a depression cure may be found.

Support is the biggest help that you can give to a depressed love one. Your family member must know that you love him or her at all cost. Depressed people feel very isolated and alone, they feel that most people do not understand them and that adds to their depression. You can help by letting your love one know how much he or she means to you, you can help your family member to get professional care and you can help with monitoring depression symptoms and to help him or her to take better care of themselves.

The first step to helping your loved one is to learn about the symptoms of the depression disorder yourself. Read up on it, talk to doctors and other people who have depression and/or the families of another depressed individual, in order to get some insight into the disease. The more you know about depression symptoms and depression causes the better you will be able to help your loved one.

Unfortunately, depressed individuals may not even know that they are depressed and you may have to convince them that their thinking is not normal and they need help. They may resist help because they are so severely depressed that they or no longer are thinking straight, have given up on life, or feel too embarrassed to go. Take the time to explain what depression is and how it is affecting them. Explain their symptoms and how getting professional help is a good solution to address their current state. If your loved one(s) is suffering from a major depression or is thinking about suicide you will need to intervene and get them to a doctor or an emergency center.

Depression can really put a strain on a relationship and one thing you must try to remember is that the apathy is not directed towards you, intimacy is a very touchy area and it does not mean your spouse does not love you if he or she is no longer interested in sexual relations, sometimes it is the depression causing it and sometimes it is the depression medication that may have an adverse affect. Consult your family physician if this is happening. Your physician or spouse’s psychiatrist can readjust the meds.

You need to give positive reinforcement whenever you see your loved one(s) doing something well. Depressed people tend to feel worthless and useless. Show them how much they are loved and needed. Help the depressed person with his or her meds. Often time, depressed people forget to take their meds. Take your loved one to medical appointments if he or she is incapable of going alone. Try to create a stress free environment at home, and most importantly take care of yourself

Caregivers often forget to take care of themselves. Yet, caregivers are human and have needs just like the people they are caring for. Join social groups, take the time to do the things you love and make sure you have your own help network that may include family, friends, other caregivers, and therapists.

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