Depression is a mental health disorder that affects a person's mood. It can cause a person to pull away from everything she knows and be unable to enjoy anything anymore. According to the MayoClinic.com, depression causes feelings of sadness, fear of rejection, sensitivity to criticism, a focus on the negative and social withdrawal. To overcome depression, a person will need support from those close to her, participation in therapy and involvement in outside activities in a continued and on-going effort. Depression is a chronic condition and efforts to combat it will have to be tailored to individual in need.
Step 1
Provide your support. A person who is depressed might seem hard to get along with and very irritable, but it is important to be supportive even when this happens. Tell your friend that you are there for him. Call and check up on him, at least every other day. Invite him out to eat with you and pick him up so that it is harder for him to avoid coming. Avoid becoming turned off by the personality characteristics of your friend's depression. Remind yourself that it is the depression talking and your continued support is needed despite the fact that your friend keeps rejecting the support.
Step 2
Encourage her to participate in therapy. Participating in psychotherapy will help your friend to deal with the confusing and powerful sad feelings associated with depression; therapy will help her to develop ways to deal with her problems and adapt her negative thoughts in positive more productive ones, notes TeensHealth.org. Avoid speaking negatively of therapy. Talk with your friend about how what she thinks of therapy. Point out instances when you see improvements or positive changes in her attitude.
Step 3
Join a club or a social group with your friend. According to HelpGuide.org, having a strong social support or a network of people to regularly interact with can combat one of the main problems with depression, isolation. Find something that you both enjoy doing such as sports, arts class, cooking class or a volunteer organization. Attend the sessions together. Avoid abandoning your friend during the activity. Meet new people in the group with your friend.
Tips and Warnings
- Suicide is a big concern for someone who has depression. If you suspect your friend with depression may be suicidal call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline right away at 1-800-273-TALK.
