What Can You Do To Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder – With depression, you may feel hopeless and unsure of where to turn or what to do next. However, support from friends and family can play a very important role in helping people recover from depression.
It is important to understand that your loved one cannot avoid the feelings they are feeling and it is not their fault. Treating your loved ones with kindness and understanding is incredibly important.
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What Can You Do To Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for depression, and your loved ones can’t “get it together.” It will take small steps for them to recover, and what helps one person won’t necessarily help another.
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When you suffer from depression, the idea of ​​getting out of bed and going about your daily activities can disappear. However, this does not mean that your loved one does not have motivation to improve. Allow them to go at their own pace and comfort level, and support them where you can.
Your role here is not to “fix” your loved one’s depression. In most cases, professional treatment from a highly qualified person is needed to overcome depression. The best thing you can do is be supportive, empathetic and patient. Hold on as long as you can. If your loved one opens up to you, you can suggest ways to help motivate them when they’re depressed, and it might be something you both enjoy doing.
Priory therapist Niamh Maguire explores everything you need to know about depression, from symptoms and causes to the most effective treatments.
If you’ve recognized signs and symptoms of depression in someone close to you, it can be incredibly helpful to have an open and honest conversation about it, so you can begin to understand what’s going on and put them at ease. that they are not alone.
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The best time to bring this up with your loved ones is in a situation and a place where you know they feel relaxed and comfortable, and somewhere you won’t be disturbed. A car ride is a good example, or maybe you’re in a quiet local coffee shop.
It is important that you start the conversation in a non-confrontational and non-disclosing manner. Try to focus on questioning your perspective rather than putting it all together. You can say things like, “I’m a little worried about you,” or “I’ve noticed that you’re not yourself and you want to talk about it.”
Focusing on “me” instead of “you” takes the focus off them and makes them feel more comfortable opening up to you.
After you’ve started the conversation, it’s a good idea to have some questions ready to ask. This will help you learn more about their emotions and moods and be in a better position to help. Your questions may include:
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If your loved one wants to open up to you, it’s important that you respond with kindness and support. You can use phrases like:
People with depression often feel isolated and find it difficult to talk about their depression. Be willing to talk openly with your loved one about their feelings and listen to what they have to say. This will show them that no matter what happens, even if anything is negative, they will be loved and valued.
It is also important to be an active listener and pay attention to the conversation. Use verbal and nonverbal cues during the conversation, maintain eye contact throughout the conversation, and regularly repeat what your loved one is saying to clarify meaning and show that you understand. This will make opening up to you as easy and natural as possible for your loved one, making them more likely to trust you in the future if they want to.
If you’ve never experienced depression, it’s hard to understand what your loved one is going through, so it’s important to avoid criticism or impatience. They may already be very self-critical, so it can be difficult to meet their needs in a non-judgmental way that shows you recognize what they’re going through.
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Remember that depression is different for everyone. It is very important that you do not try to make comparisons or assumptions. All it tends to do is make them feel invalid and misunderstood, which can further dampen their spirits and prevent them from opening up.
Depression can have a negative impact not only on the emotional side of a person’s life, but also on the more practical side. They may struggle with daily tasks and responsibilities due to lack of energy or general interest in daily life.
It can be very helpful to give real help to your loved ones, whenever they need it. Ask them how you can help them. It could be doing your weekly shop, helping with the laundry or cleaning, or even cooking a few healthy meals.
Plus, a small gesture to let your loved one know you’re thinking of them can go a long way. Buy them a magazine they like, surprise them with flowers, make a phone call to tell them you love them, or just sit quietly with them – it can go a long way.
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All types of depression can be treated, whether your loved one is suffering from clinical depression, seasonal affective disorder, or other types of depression, and this is an important message in trying to strengthen your loved one. Connecting with a mental health professional means that your loved one’s condition can be assessed and some next steps can be taken, but only if they feel ready.
If they’re worried about talking to a professional, offer to accompany them to their first few appointments and help them make a list of their symptoms to talk about.
Your loved one has taken an incredibly brave step in seeking help for their depression. From there, the best thing you can do is give yourself as much support as possible throughout the healing process.
Remember, if you think your loved one is at risk of suicide, take immediate action. Call a national helpline such as the Samaritans, book an urgent appointment with your GP or go to your nearest A&E department.
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If the depression your loved one is experiencing is affecting their ability to lead a normal life, it may be time to seek professional help. Encourage them to talk to their GP, who can offer professional advice on spotting symptoms.
With your loved one’s blessing, you can seek treatment for depression at Priory, where we can work with your loved one to develop a recovery program that fits their needs and circumstances. We offer intensive inpatient stays, weekly treatment sessions that fit around our patients’ lives and work, and online therapy that allows you to recover from the comfort of your own home.
You don’t have to struggle with depression; Professional and established treatments are available. To find out how Priory can help your loved one overcome their depression and recover, call our dedicated team today on 0330 056 6020 or make an enquiry. When someone we care about is experiencing the loss of a loved one. Of course, we want to do everything we can to be there for them. While we need help in any way possible, we may feel at a loss when it comes to what exactly to do. Maybe we fear saying the wrong thing, saying too little, or saying too much. It’s heartbreaking to see your loved one in pain and feel like you can’t do anything to make it better. Many other factors affect how we deal with situations. We can experience pain ourselves. Or maybe we’ve never faced a loss and feel like we can’t fully understand their pain. Talking about grief can be scary and often leads to feelings of helplessness. Many people feel that they do not know how best to help their friends and family. The good news is that caring for someone who is grieving doesn’t have to be complicated. Although it may seem like there is nothing we can do about it. Never make up for their loss – help doesn’t have to be special. In fact, it often just involves showing up and offering help on a daily basis. The image below shows how, in a simple way, you can provide compassionate support to someone who is grieving. Image from the Instagramrefugeingrief account, run by Megan Devine, a counselor and author who specializes in helping people who are grieving. Follow the links to find hopeful and realistic messages about different aspects of the grieving process.
Another equally informative and cute creation by Megan Devine is this YouTube video. As an expert in bereavement and severe loss, she offers real and deep insights.
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