Sometimes we can be close to people who are depressed and we do not know it or we do not identify that they are going through this difficult situation. Depression is a disorder that affects a person's mood and can last for days, months or even years. It is characterized because the person feels a huge apathy, sadness, anguish, anxiety, negative thoughts that occupy his mind, his time and that prevents him from seeing things clearly, for him everything is dark and with no way out, it should be noted that these symptoms can vary in each person.
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Now, living with a person who suffers from depression is not easy, it affects the whole family, children, partner, friends and if you want to help that person out of that state may not be so easy, it is a job that must be done with patience and tact, it will be a challenge. Sometimes we can feel helpless and do not know what to do. Therefore, if any of us suspects or knows someone who may suffer from depression, it is important to know how we can help them. We must be very attentive and aware of, for example, the symptoms they present, under what situations or circumstances the person becomes depressed, their behavior or their language.
We must take into account that each case can be very particular, however we can make use of the following advice
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We must avoid leaving the person alone, we must be willing to listen to them, let them know that we want to understand how they feel, avoiding giving opinions and without judging them. By just spending a few minutes to listen, we can get the person to unburden themselves and it can be useful as a healing tool. Try to find options for distractions in spite of their low spirits, such as going for a walk, watching movies, eating something they like, but very importantly, do not force them to do so.
Reinforce the positive and try to increase their self-esteem, usually a depressed person will always look for their bad side and mistakes in everything they do, so you have to let them know and remind them of their qualities and virtues, how important they are to others.
Make them feel that we are there for whatever they need, if they want to talk, if they just want to cry, or just the company of someone.
It is highly recommended, if faith is an important element in the person's life, prayer, meditation, participation in groups or communities that share the same beliefs is very beneficial to find spiritual peace.
It should be noted that if the state of depression worsens, it is advisable to encourage the person to seek help from a professional who has the right tools to guide him/her in the search for a solution.
It must also be remembered that the person who helps must also take care of him or herself, despite being focused on the welfare of the other because he or she may feel some stress, feelings of guilt, and in order to help others we must be well with ourselves, so we must be patient and avoid that the situation affects the relationship of those involved, if necessary we must seek support from other friends or family to avoid exhaustion and frustration.
Perhaps the depression of someone close to us cannot be solved because it depends on her and the desire she has to overcome and get out of that state, however the support of her loved ones and those around her will be very helpful, every effort counts.