8 tips for helping a person with depression

When accompanying a person going through a depressive disorder, it is easy to make mistakes.

Depression is an illness that affects 5% of the Spanish population, according to studies carried out this year.according to studies carried out this year. Therefore, most people know, or even live with someone who suffers from depression to a greater or lesser degree.

In view of these statistics and the difficulties that this condition entails, it is convenient to know how we can accompany these people, making their daily lives a little easier. Therefore, in this article we will review several advices to help a person with depression.

How does a person with depression feel?

First of all it is necessary to clarify that, in spite of speaking of depression in general terms, this can present itself in different forms and many degrees depending on the person. However, there are a number of common feelings or thoughts that tend to prevail in all people affected by depression.

Likewise, in order to help a depressed person, or at least make things easier for them while they are in the process of recovery, it is necessary to first know how they feel and how they are feeling, it is first necessary to know how they are feeling and what they are thinking.. Knowing what are those feelings and beliefs that flood the mind of a person with depression will make it easier for family and friends to be able to accompany them.

Some of the thoughts and feelings of a person with depression are the following.

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Self-devaluation, hopelessness and distress 2.

The depressive mood is characterized by being accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and guilt, feelings that cause great distress in the person experiencing them.feelings that cause great distress in the person experiencing them.

Usually, the depressed person thinks that there is nothing that can be done to improve or fix his situation, as well as experiencing a great disregard or contempt for himself.

Since the person is perfectly aware of both his or her suffering and the anguish this causes in the people around him or her, feelings of guilt for causing suffering in others are also very common. are also very common.

All these reflections end up causing in the person a symptomatology of an anxious character that is externalized by palpitations, tremors, sensation of suffocation and a very disabling general malaise.

2. Need for social isolation

Due to the above thoughts and beliefs, it is common for the person suffering from depression to end up rejecting a large part of his or her social life and relationships. rejecting a large part of his or her social life and relationships.. This need for solitude or isolation can end up degenerating into almost total isolation and personal abandonment.

At the same time, this isolation aggravates the feelings of hopelessness and contempt and becomes a vicious circle for the person.

3. Feeling of lack of energy

The lack of strength or energy to carry out any type of activity, no matter how simple or elementary it may be, is one of the main symptoms or regrets reported by the person.

4. Fluctuations and changes in symptomatology

It is common for people suffering from depression to experience a series of fluctuations in their mood at different times of the day. fluctuations in their mood throughout the day.. As well as the intensity of the symptoms does not have to be stable during the development of the disease.

Most patients report that their symptoms are milder in the afternoon and that the discomfort is almost always accentuated in the morning. These cyclical ups and downs generate a great deal of anxiety in the person, who anticipates in the person, who anticipates and tries to predict when he/she is going to feel bad.

Tips to help the person with depression

Although the above points are only a small part of the Wide range of symptoms, feelings and thoughts that can circulate in the mind of a person with depression, knowing them can be of great help when trying to help and accompany the person during the depression. trying to help and accompany him/her during recovery..

It is necessary to point out that this does not constitute a therapy and that for a person with depression to overcome it, psychological intervention by a professional is necessary. The following are suggestions to help anyone suffering from this type of affliction.

1. Suggest the help of a professional

As mentioned above, no matter how good the intentions of the person who intends to help a depressed person, accompaniment and non-professional advice cannot by themselves cure a person with depression.

The first thing to keep in mind is that depression is an illness that can become very serious, and that it is thereforeTherefore, therapeutic intervention by a professional is necessary.

In this case, something that can be done is to persuade the person and convince him/her to seek psychological help or assistance. Although this task will not be easy, it is extremely necessary. Through calm conversations and with a lot of tact and subtletyThe family should insist on the idea of visiting a professional and, if necessary, offer to accompany him/her.

2. Avoid life advice

Even if the will to help is always positive, suggestions to encourage the person through advice to make him/her feel better, to reflect on what he/she has, or through continuous invitations to go out and do activities are absolutely ineffective, even becoming counterproductive and provoking more discomfort in the person..

3. Stay by his or her side

Having said the above, what a person with depression really needs is that the people around him/her are empathetic, that they show their understandingThey need to show their understanding and to be there for them when they need it.

4. Reinforce their strengths

Due to the decrease of self-esteem and the undervaluation that suffers, the depressed person tends to reject and not to admit the progress he/she makes. during the treatment process. These people tend to emphasize their deficiencies or shortcomings and to overlook their potential and successes.

To help them, it is vital that their closest circles are able to emphasize those skills, abilities or successes that the person possesses.

5. Respect their silence

It makes no sense to force or coerce a person with depression to speak or convey what he/she feels, as well as to be sociable, given that it is not something that is under their control. These types of attempts at outreach tend to provoke more tension and feelings of incomprehension in the person.

6. Convey hope

Feelings of hopelessness associated with depression lock the person into a tunnel from which he or she is unable to see the way out. Therefore, it is advisable that family members or people around you convey to you, by means of a coherent speech and without being exaggeratedly optimisticthat, although he/she is not able to see it now, there is a way out.

It is necessary to convince him/her that depression is an illness that can be treated and cured and that if he/she follows the intervention guidelines he/she will get better.

7. Do not ask for explanations

On many occasions, and with the intention of trying to understand what is happening in order to be able to help, pressure is put on the person to try to explain what is causing this suffering. However, depression is not a disease caused by a single factor, and in most cases not even the person himself knows what has led him to such an extreme.

Therefore, asking for rational explanations when the person is not in a rational situation does not make any sense, and will only trigger feelings of frustration and irritation..

8. Taking care of one's own emotional health

Finally, it is necessary that whoever accompanies the depressed person through his or her recovery be able to avoid the possible psychological effects that this may cause.

Depressed moods can become contagious if the person is not aware of it. if the person is not aware of it. Seeing a loved one suffer can trigger great emotional distress, so the person must be protected against this possible risk.