How to Be There for a Person with Depression?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 4.3% of the world’s population, equivalent to 300 million suffer from depression. In India alone, 15% of Indian adults need active intervention for mental health issues. Moreover, 1 in 20 Indians suffers from depression. Given these sobering statistics, it is necessary for each one of us to know how to treat and relate to depressed persons.

Furthermore, if you are a person suffering from depression, you can opt for the best free online doctor consultation from Doctor2Care. So get the help you deserve and choose to talk to one of our counsellors today.

Let’s begin!

What is depression?

Depression is a serious medical illness where the sufferer feels low or sad or thinks life is meaningless for a period extending more than 2-3 weeks. It should not be mistaken for sadness, disappointment, or dejection which are common and natural feelings.

Depression is an extreme form of negative feelings which rarely subsides and affects the day-to-day activity of a person. Moreover, depression has a debilitating effect on the sufferer and requires treatment from a qualified mental health expert or medical practitioner.

In most cases, patients are able to get back to a normal life, though the process of recovery can be slow.

What are the symptoms of depression?

The symptoms of depression do not vary widely in the sufferers. People describe the condition in the following ways:

• Feeling sad or depressed.
• Loss of interest in the activities previously enjoyed.
• Changes in appetite which leads to sudden weight loss or weight gain.
• Suicidal feelings
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Inability to sit still, hand wringing, pacing
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Blaming one’s self for the past
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

It is necessary that these symptoms persist for 2 weeks or more for the condition to qualify as depression. Moreover, since some of the symptoms mimic other health problems like thyroid or vitamin deficiency, the patient will need to check with a doctor to rule out these causes.

5 Ways to Be There for a Person with Depression

If a loved one has been diagnosed with depression, and you believe that it is important to be there for them, but don’t know how then continue to read this blog.

• Encourage treatment

The first thing you should do for a person diagnosed with depression is to encourage treatment. You should ensure that your loved one goes for therapy, takes medication on time and reports changes to the doctor. 

Professional advice is the need of the hour. Moreover, you should help get in touch with groups and counsellors who can guide them through the condition.

• Educate yourself about the condition

Before you think you can be a pillar of support for a loved one, educate yourself about the condition. Read up online or offline about the various symptoms, signs, and risk factors. Then you can be there for someone and help them cope with their condition.

Most people do not know much about depression, and they need to be educated about the condition before they can be of help to others.

• Be aware of suicide risk

You should be aware of suicide risk in patients. Have all the hotline numbers in readiness and try to eliminate the person in a safe environment. If your loved one makes statements like “I wish I’d never been born” or “I wish I were dead” or “I do not want to live anymore”, you should take these as warning signs.

• Never Belittle the Condition

You should never belittle depression. Most people who do not understand the condition tend to think of depression as something the person is making up. They fail to treat people with the sensitivity that they deserve. Hence, always treat your loved one with extra care and caution.

• Have a Plan for Emergencies

In case, something serious should occur, you should have a plan for emergencies. Know whom to call and how to deal with the emergency. You should be careful to keep this emergency plan a secret from the patient.

Conclusion

The best free online doctor consultation for depression is from Doctor2Care. You can choose to consult with our psychiatrists and counsellors for a holistic treatment course today.

Remember that while you are there for others, you should take care of your own mental health.

Also, remember that depression can be treated. There is no need to admit defeat or feel destroyed from the inside. You can overcome this health challenge properly with the right course of treatment.