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When a friend or family member is experiencing depression, to help it is important to find out about it, make the other comfortable to talk about what is happening, provide emotional support and recommend that psychological or psychiatric help be sought.
The treatment of depression when accompanied by one of these professionals, together with family support and a network of friends, can help the other to get through this period more quickly, preventing the case from getting worse. Find out how depression is treated.
Some actions can help to live with a depressed person, and help them deal with depression, such as:
1. Search for information about depression
Looking for deep and complete information about what depression is, the types that exist and what the signs and symptoms that this psychological disorder may present, is the first step to help someone who is going through a depressive episode, thus preventing some behaviors from occurring. and statements that can be harmful to the depressed person. Better understand what depression is and what the signs are.
It is important to obtain information from official sources, as well as from specialists on the subject, such as psychologists or psychiatrists, so that in this way we have correct information and, thus, it is possible to offer greater help to the person who has depression.
In addition, looking for more information can also help explain to the person that what they feel has treatment and improvement. It is important not to adopt the role of therapist, as this could worsen the condition of depression, and therefore it is recommended to limit yourself to information about what is safe and which has been obtained from reliable sources.
2. Make the other comfortable
Allowing the other to talk or not about the situation, making them comfortable is of great importance when there is a desire to help someone who is going through the depressive episode. It is common for doubts to arise about how things happened and why they happened, however, the person may be ashamed of the reasons that triggered the disorder, but they may also not have the answer to that question.
It is important not to pressure the person to speak or to ask questions that might make them uncomfortable, as this can interfere with the bond of trust that is being created.
3. Recommend that you seek out a therapist
Depression is a disabling psychological disorder, but it can be controlled and its signs and symptoms reduced almost until it disappears, and this is only possible through psychotherapy, either with a psychologist or a psychiatrist, who will instruct the person with depression to understand what is happening and to deal rationally with the suffering he is feeling in this disorder.
4. Make invitations for relaxation techniques
Most cases of depression have some degree of anxiety, even if the symptoms are not visible, so leaving an open invitation to practice a relaxation technique, which is usually done in pairs, can help the person who is going through by the depressive episode, to feel better, as long as it is as a complement to the treatment indicated by the professional.
Meditation, yoga, music therapy and aromatherapy, for example, are relaxation techniques capable of reducing stress levels in the body, reducing muscle pain and increasing the production of serotonin, a hormone capable of generating well-being. Find out other techniques that help treat depression and anxiety.
5. Encourage treatment to continue
Even after starting treatment, it is not possible to guarantee how long the person will be able to feel better, since everyone has different demands and levels of depression, which makes the person being treated feel unmotivated and did not want to continue, for not seeing the results.
It is up to those who want to help, try to make this situation less uncomfortable such as supporting that the other is not missing, reinforcing how much is necessary or offering to accompany the other to therapy, for example.
6. Be present
Even if a person affected by depression wants to isolate himself and avoid all contact, making it clear that he is available when necessary, without the pressure to set a day and time, can make the other feel less alone and more comfortable asking for company when you think it might be good for you.
When to seek medical help
It is important to seek medical help when the person exhibits behaviors and thoughts that could be life-threatening. Thus, it is recommended that the psychiatrist's evaluation or intervention in the hospital be indicated when the person expresses issues related to death, suicide or the fact that he / she wants to not have been born, when excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs is verified, alteration in the habits of sleep and risky behaviors such as driving at high speed, for example.