Living with depression is a constant battle, a never ending draw on our inner resources, its a barrage of hard times after what may well have seemed like getting through one crisis, only to face yet another.
Living with depression and how to manage it
When people talk about depression, they speak mention two words more than any others, emptiness and loneliness, the constant sense of a life without purpose and a life of feeling alone.
Many people living with depression find it a daily struggle just to get out of bed every morning. Everyday tasks most of us take for granted, can feel like a mountain to climb, when they don’t have the energy nor the motivation to put one foot in front of the other.
Necessary tasks like bathing, eating, or going to work or school feel like insurmountable obstacles to a person living with depression.
The key to living with depression is to have the right people in your life, most people benefit from both therapy and medication, as medication alone won’t tackle the underlying issues. This requires a lot of effort and hard work for most people, but it can be done.
Having positive supportive people around you is a must, people who at least try to understand what its like living with depression.
Establishing and creating a well balanced healthier lifestyle will also help, even a small amount of exercise will produce positive endorphins and help you make a success of living with depression.
Helping someone living with depression.
When we see a friend or family member in distress, most of us want to offer a helping hand. However when it comes depression, a mental illness, all too often we retreat, fearful of the stigma associated with mental health and depression.
Often we don’t know how to help, living with depression throws up lots of challenges and sometimes we feel de-skilled as friends and family member, not knowing what to do for the best.
We can help people living with depression by saying the following statement and carrying it through, these are specifically written with friends and family in mind:
1. Be in their corner
try to see things from their perspective, asking how they see things or how they feel is a good positive way to help them feel understood and heard.
2. Reassure them of your constant support and love
People living with depression often feel worthless and un-lovable, so reminding them that neither is true, is a positive way to help.
3. Don’t panic if you don’t have the answers or a fix
Sometimes the complexities of people living with depression can make us feel paralysed and not know what to say, don’t worry, its fine to say ‘I can’t imagine how you truly feel, but I want to help and be here for you’, these words are powerful and will help them feel less isolated.
4. Help in any way that you can
Sometimes we panic and presume we know what a person needs, instead ask them what you can do to help, say you will do whatever you can, to help and support their struggles.
If you need to talk to someone urgently re depression, if you feel in danger, or suicidal.
Contact The Samaritans or Befrienders International.
Paul Parkin – online therapist
April 2018
