What should I do if a friend or relative is depressed?

If your relative or friend is in treatment for depression, help him or her remember to take prescribed medications and to keep appointments. Be willing to listen. Let your loved one know that you want to understand how he or she feels. When the person wants to talk, listen carefully, but avoid giving advice or opinions or making judgments.

Can people feel depressed?

People can feel depressed, but the question with depression is for how long, and how much does it interfere with our capacity to go on with [our] life?” There’s no difference between depression and high-functioning depression. Depression ranges from mild to moderate to severe.

What are the symptoms of depression in friends?

But not everyone experiences depression in the same way, and symptoms can vary. If your friend is experiencing depression, they may: seem less interested in spending time together or communicate less frequently than they normally would

Should you help someone who’s living with depression?

When you care about someone who’s living with depression, it’s tempting to drop everything to be by their side and support them. It’s not wrong to want to help a friend, but it’s also important to take care of your own needs. If you put all your energy into supporting your friend, you’ll have very little left for yourself.

Why is it so hard to make friends when you’re depressed?

It’s hard to make friends when you might need them most. What Is Depression? Admittedly, It’s tough to make friends when you’re feeling depressed, even if you desperately want someone to talk to or confide in. When people are depressed, they may not have sufficient energy or initiative to reach out to others.

What are the symptoms of depression in a friend?

Some of the common symptoms of depression include: [1] Encourage your friend to talk to a doctor. As soon as you suspect that your friend is suffering from depression, you should encourage him or her to see a doctor. Your friend may be denying that there is a problem or maybe even embarrassed to admit that there is a problem.

How to help a friend who is bipolar or depressed?

Take care of yourself. Helping a friend who is battling depression is hard work. To make sure that you do not suffer an emotional crisis, you will need to take very good care of yourself as well. Make sure that you set aside at least 30 minutes each day that is just for you.