How to Help Someone With Depression

humanbeing

3 months ago

yes, it is not only helpful, but also reflexes my past activities, when I was also in the state of depression.

Emily M.

4 months ago

Hello Linda Bonnet­t and anonymous, Thank you very much for your feedback. We work hard to vary the use of the "he" and "she" pronouns throughout our site as we fully recognize both men and women are caregivers, as are care receivers. We apologize for your impression that we primarily use one over another. We'll continue to review our content to make certain we acknowledge all of those who are there for their aging loved ones. @charlieeze and anonymous: If you have questions, please feel free to post them in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask). Take care everyone! -- Emily | Community Manager

Guess this doesnt apply to men as "she" is consistantly used>\?

help yoursel­f

4 months ago

Hey listen guy's Give a favour to yourself go to doctor/therapist, take medication and learn how to co-op. I have been suffering from deepration for last 35 years. But I never give up. Allways try to help myself and other who are also deepresed. Remember WWW wake-walk and work(whatever you can. even volunteer.)

help yoursel­f

4 months ago

This information is great for the people who are suffering from deepration and I am one of them. Many many thanks. God (if any) bless you.

realsuede

4 months ago

Theres is no such thing as clinical depression, It is a made up disease By the pill pusher industries to sell Harmful drugs that have nasty side-effects. C.D is a hoax. How come the famalies of ploliticians and goverment workers don,t have these so-called diseases? And so they are attacking the young and the old with this Witch-hunt. It is pure abuse of the elderly. Don,t buy into this crap.

this is just discribing my self

Linda Bonnet­t

4 months ago

Every thing is "She". I can't give this to my husband because he will just say it is not written for men. Please change it to he/she or person.

charlieeze

4 months ago

Interesting article but what about if you are the depressed person and are not interested in a retirement community or nursing home?

I have someone in my family that has never been happy. She is very unpleasant to be around. Never happy about anything! Always holds grudes and never forgets or forgives. She loves to be mean to her family. Is she depressed or just hateful and mean?

Doma

4 months ago

I have recently recovered from a serious depression which lasted 14 months. I can think of no reason why the depression happened. It seemed to come on fairly rapidly. I saw an psychiatrist and a psychologist on a regular basis. I tried many anti-depressants. After many months of trial and error with medications, some of which had very bad side effects, the psychiatrist prescribed Effexor 220 mg. I have now cut back to 170 mg. which I will stay on. I think this was the medication that helped me return to being myself. My family told me I was sluring my words (before medication) and I wasn't eating. My family insisted I go to an independent living facility. I participated in all of the activities, ate meals, plus volunteered to be in charge of some activities. Gradually, I began to feel like myself again. I am home and feeling very good. I can now drive my car again, go to the grocery, shop, go to church. In other words, I have finally returned to leading a normal life. I think one of my big problems was that I didn't have a good base of friendships. I had some good friends who helped, as well as, my family, but they all had family and personal obligations. If I would have had a larger friendship basis,I think it is possible my depression would not have become as severe. One can't have too many friends. I am now working on building my friendships.

recovering

5 months ago

Heart-to-Hearts are a great thing. Especially if you have a lot to say. Sometimes just talking gets it out of your system. Pets are helpful too.

I am glad to have read this...it describes ME. I have withdrawn from nearly all my former joys. I feel that I don't matter anymore. No one knows how deeply SAD (so sad) I really am.

I have battled clinical depression my whole life. Even as a child and later as a teenager I knew I would need to go get help someday. (My Dad didn't believe in Psychologist or Psychiatrists...he needed it more than ever!) Despit what he said I did get help as an adult and it has helped me immensly! I do take an anti-depressant and have done so on and off. When I took Zoloft I felt so good. I said "this is what it mustbe like to feel "normal" ha ha! At times when I have been very overwhelmed I have also gone to therapy weekly. It also has helped so much!!! Ignore the "taboo" and those who speak negatively about getting help! It can mean the difference between life and death sometimes!!! I mean that literally!

Emily M.

7 months ago

Hi lana bastian­, Thank you very much for your comment. I am very sorry to hear that you have been experiencing depression lately. That must be very difficult for you. Unfortunately, Caring.com is a information and resource website only. We are not a facility, and do not have any sort of program like the one you have described. However, you may find some useful information in our directory about different types of senior living: ( http://www.caring.com/local ). If you have any further questions at this time, please feel free to contact me at moderators@caring.com. Take care -- Emily | Community Manager

lana bastian­

8 months ago

i have major depression and just exist, but i do exist. i have no desire to go anywhere, eat or really do anything. the worst part is i have good medical care for it, but it just keeps me able to survive. i have no one here and all my friends i used to have work. i am not able to work and i have learned they soon forget you. i am so lonely. do you have program that people share residence?

In a format for AD patients and their care givers the tips on depression were strictly aimed at those who can think clearly even though depressed. What about the AD person who tells you how depressed he is--life is worthless--he cannot accomplish anything--and then can not remember this conversation five minutes later--let alone long enough to tell a therapist about his feelings---the dilemma comes when trying to find a therapist who can evaluate and treat these feelings of depression--even though memories fade--feelings do not----

The Caregive­r's Voice

10 months ago

Just yesterday I spent nearly an hour with a former caregiver who is depressed. As Brenda-Frank mentioned...sometimes just taking time to talk with a depressed person does a world of good. I expected only to spend about 5 or 10 minutes with her, but she needed to talk...and she felt better afterward. TAKE TIME to patiently SPEND TIME (if you can spare some) with those who NEED YOUR TIME.

Brenda-Frank­

about 1 year ago

Its nice to know you can solve a problem with out going to a Doctor. Also some times just talking with people can help.

marlene

almost 2 years ago

This article does not help much in telling what to do once the depression is diagnosed. My mother is on antidepressants and continues declining. How can I get her help?

ginger222

over 2 years ago

i really cant believe this entire article refers to the depressed person as "she".