Depression can easily cut a person off from everyone in their lives, so providing help when they need it most can be difficult. The depressed individual may react very little when addressed or may be unresponsive to questions entirely. This does not mean that helping is futile, or that by trying to help, one is actively bringing more harm to the situation. Each person acts differently when depressed, but there are a few places to begin when trying to show support.
Be Patient
Just because a depressed individual isn’t seeming to respond when presented with questions doesn’t mean that nothing is registering. Keep in mind that motivation is one of the first things to be sapped from a depressed person. Their outlook on the world is one of sorrow and helplessness. They feel powerless to change it. Be persistent and patient in support. How long it takes a person to heal is less important than ensuring that the proper steps are taken to recover appropriately. Continue to offer support, even with quiet gestures and words, and wait with the person without expecting them to heal by a particular deadline.
Prioritize Face Time and Phone Calls
It is not always possible to be physically present with a loved one while trying to show support. In that case, try to use FaceTime, phone calls, or other real-time video and voice chat programs to reach out to the individual. It is very common for a person with depression to feel detached from the people and world around them. Emails or text messages often do not carry the personal connection or weight that other methods of communication can provide. Always reinforce who they are talking to by making the connections as personal and tangible as possible.
Avoid Assumptions
It can be very easy to try to look for a tangible source of the depression and rectify it in an attempt to help a loved one. However, depression is an all-engulfing feeling of helplessness or apathy that doesn’t lend itself to a single solution. Rather than scanning the tangible world for a cause, focus on nurturing a personal connection of support or kinship in a trying time. One needn’t know what depression feels like internally to express a calm, patient, supportive love.
At Alta Loma Transformational Living, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms. Alta Loma uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, where you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan. We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit, so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 866-457-3843.
