“You’re not alone!”
How relatives can support depressed people
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Relatives can be a great source of support for people with depressive illness in everyday life. But facing the challenge can also be a burden. There is psychotherapeutic support or self-help groups that you can turn to.
Depression can change a loved one. Your cheerful and funny friend suddenly seems hopeless and empty? The self-confident friend is listless and withdraws? Whether an acquaintance, friend or family member: the illness Depression is also stressful for those around you, who often feel helpless. If the depressive phase lasts longer, helplessness can turn into overload and exhaustion. To counteract this, there are ways you can support depressed people.
Acceptance and professional help
The support of a doctor is essential. Depressed people often blame themselves for their thoughts or do not accept their illness. It can help if you accept the illness and take it seriously from the start. Go to the doctor together with your relative or, in the worst case, seek professional support yourself.
Don’t lose patience
Withdrawal is a common symptom of depression. Keeping in touch can then be difficult. The sick person may not feel like doing anything and wants to be alone. Maintaining patience is then important. Keep reminding the person that they have an illness that will go away with proper treatment.
take good care of yourself
If a person suffers from depression for months, the burden on those around them becomes greater and greater. It is important that you take care of yourself and know and respect the limits of your resilience. You are a friend, a family member or your partner. You cannot and should not take on the job of the psychologist. Keep doing what you enjoy and what makes you happy. There are many offers, analogue and digital, that offer a platform for an exchange between relatives of sick people.
No well-intentioned advice
No matter how well-intentioned advice to go on a trip or get some rest, it usually only further disturbs the sick person. Assistance and active support are more helpful than suggestions and encouragement.
Postpone important decisions as much as possible
A person suffering from depression often only sees black things. Decisions that need to be made may therefore be completely different than they would have been at another time. If possible, decisions concerning private or professional matters should be postponed so that they can be made in a healthy state.
Good days do not mean improvement
Depression comes in phases. Those affected will experience both good and not so good days. “You were fine yesterday” is not helpful and does not mean that the illness has been cured. Good days can be used, but should not be overinterpreted.
It is important to find out more about the disease, its effects and treatment options. Having a general understanding of the situation in which the affected person finds themselves can make it easier to get professional help. We have put together sentences that show in an empathetic way that you are there for your loved one and will not leave them alone.
10 pictures
Sources used: patienten-information.de, deutsche-depressionshilfe.de, faktenblatt_depressionen.pdf