Depression

Yesterday’s post was about laughter; today, I would like to look into the words you can say to someone who is undergoing depression.  What is depression?  Depression is a feeling of worthlessness leading to impaired concentration and unnecessary fatigue.  Is it serious enough to cause death?  Yes, it is serious enough to cause death because the feeling of worthlessness makes a person want to end his/her life.  There is no reason for living; no life purpose for a depressed person. Depressed people feel tired all the time causing them to shy away from society and be alone.  This solitude attitude adds to the feeling of wanting to end one’s life. Can we help with just mere words?  You may not notice it but even people with no professional background in handling depressed people can help ease depression with just mere words.

 

Some people are just so insensitive.  They respond harshly even to depressed people.  Depressed people are so sensitive to the words spoken to them, so we need to be very thoughtful of every word we utter when consoling or talking to depressed people.

 

Always impress upon a depressed person that you are always available for them.  You will always be there whether it be a mere phone call at night when they need to vent or simply when they feel that they just need someone to talk to.  Tell them that you will arrange your schedule should they need you to be physically present for them.

 

People undergoing depression needs to know that they are understood.  Tell them that you understand how they feel.  Make them feel that their feelings are valid and there are ways to free them from their present emotional agony.  Make them feel that you care and there are solutions to their problems.

 

Boost the morale of a depressed person.  Tell them that they can come out victorious from their present state.  Help them remember their past successes and accomplishments.  Tell them that they are overcomers and they can rise above their bad situation again.  Remind them that their trials are there only to make them better individuals.  Tell them not to be bitter about their situation but look at what good this situation can bring to them.

 

Tell them that they are not alone in their situation.  You care about them; you love them that is why you are with them in their situation. 

 

Guide depressed people to their happy moments.  Help them reminisce the good past, the happy moments of their life.  Help them to get back into their hobbies that make them happy and occupied.

 

If despite of all the words and efforts you are doing, your buddy continues to be in his depressed mood, ask him to write his emotions. Sometimes, mere talk and words will not free a person from depression; sometimes, feelings of weariness have to be written down to enable the person and whoever is helping him to carefully analyze the situation.

 

Finally, if this does not work either, consider seeking professional help.  It could be that the depression is deeper than you can personally handle.  Psychologists have more experience and methods that could help your friend.  Also, sometimes depressed people do not want to divulge too much of their feelings to people close to them. 

 

Depressed people are very sensitive; choose your words wisely when talking to them.