If someone close to you is suffering from depression, it’s normal to feel concerned, and to want to find practical ways to care for them. Yes, it can be distressing to witness someone you care about declining not only mentally, but physically as well. Depression and other mental health disorders are complex conditions that can affect both the physical and mental health of not only those suffering from them but those close to them, too.
While it’s always best to seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner such as an online MSN FNP-accredited healthcare professional, this article aims to give readers some realistic ideas on how to support someone in their life who is suffering from depression – like how to lend a helping hand with household chores, making sure we’re checking in and setting regular plans to catch up, and just as importantly, educating ourselves on depression.
Lend a Helping Hand
If someone is suffering from depression, often, completing even the simplest of household tasks can feel extremely overwhelming. And life admin? A chore at the best of times, staying on top of our personal to-do lists can fall completely by the wayside when we’re feeling blue. In saying that, a helping hand to get things done around the house is often sorely appreciated when it all starts to feel too much. If you notice someone close to you is struggling to keep up, supporting them in this practical way can help them through their rough patch more than you might realize.
One of the most pragmatic ways to help, other than barging in and scrubbing their floors? Meal-prepping hearty, soul-soothing dishes is a great way to show someone you care about their well-being. High-protein recipes that can be prepped in bulk and batch-frozen – such as beef mince chile con carne, lasagne, or cottage pie, for example – are popular picks for crowd-pleasing, nutritious meals that can easily be stored and defrosted in a pinch, perfect for anyone who is too depressed to think about cooking.
Check In Regularly
Anyone who’s attended a psychotherapy session may have heard about a well-used cognitive behavioral therapy technique referred to as ‘opposite action’. As part of this method, therapy patients learn to – quite literally – do the opposite of how they feel. For example, if we’re feeling too depressed to get out of bed, the opposite action is the last thing we feel like doing: dragging ourselves outside for a serotonin-boosting walk in the sunshine. When we just want to cocoon ourselves away from the world and isolate ourselves, often the best thing to do is exactly the opposite: reaching out to a friend or loved one for mood-enhancing social connection.
Despite the effectiveness of the opposite action method, however, it does require the depressed to be the instigator. And realistically, this can feel exceptionally daunting for many, and easier to resist. Family members who are worried about loved ones locking themselves away can help by initiating contact and checking in regularly to make sure they’re okay. This is easier said than done, of course – we all get busy. But making it a priority to schedule regular catch-ups will show them you care, and that you are there to support them.
Educate Yourself on Depression
If you want to understand what someone with depression is going through, you need to take steps to educate yourself on their illness. How? Reading educational articles about depression is a good start – especially from medically supported, credible sources. Listen to podcasts, or perhaps tune in to online forums detailing people’s firsthand experiences with the illness. Just as importantly, listen to your loved one without judgment, and take their feelings seriously.
Watching someone you love suffer from depression is never easy. But, there are practical ways you can help support them through tough times.
Strategies like helping out around the house and preparing healthy meals can go a long way in showing them you care. So does checking in often, and scheduling regular catch-ups.
Finally, make sure to educate yourself on their illness, so you can properly understand what your loved one is going through, and how you can best support them.
