| As a spouse or friend, it's difficult to know how to help | | | | 5. Take a mini vacation. |
| depression in someone you love. Normally happy and | | | | A low-cost get-away allows your loved one to take a |
| talkative, now they're somber and quiet. Normally | | | | vacation from their problems. You can take a 2-night |
| eager to dine out and take in a movie, now excuses | | | | cruise full of endless pampering and fun. |
| to stay home alone. You want to help, but what can | | | | 6. Reminisce about pleasant and funny memories. |
| you do? | | | | Bringing up the best of times shared together is a |
| No matter what type or stage of depression your | | | | pleasant way of how to help depression. Get them |
| loved one is going through, here are 10 simple steps | | | | laughing about funny stories, favorite jokes, or |
| you can take today to support your loved one's | | | | comedians acts' that you shared. |
| depression: | | | | 7. Make sure to acknowledge any and all time focused |
| 1. Get them to talk. | | | | on pleasure. |
| Getting your loved one to talk to you about anything | | | | The endeavors of enjoyable activities such as going to |
| and everything on their mind is perhaps one of the | | | | the movies, miniature golf, bowling, etc., are excellent |
| most important steps you can take to show you care. | | | | methods of creating and preserving pleasurable |
| Treat any subject as important. Do not allow them to | | | | memories. |
| trivialize their issues. | | | | 8. Express sensitivity. |
| 2. Go to their house and help with chores. | | | | Very important virtues of patience, compassion, and |
| By physically helping them do the laundry, clean the | | | | pro-active behavior are crucial from your point of view. |
| dishes, prepare easily freezable meals, you are not | | | | Counteracting ruminating thoughts of adversity are |
| only engaging them in structured activities, but also | | | | how to help depression. |
| reducing the chances of their becoming overwhelmed. | | | | 9. Engage their attention and assistance with a project. |
| 3. Encourage them to get out of bed, shower, and put | | | | Solicit suggestions such as choosing photographs to |
| on clean clothes. | | | | create a memorable scrapbook for a mutual |
| Physical stimulation that a hot shower and fresh | | | | loved-one. Focusing on helping others makes your |
| clothing can provide is a subtle yet immensely | | | | loved one feel needed. |
| therapeutic activity. When you are clean, you feel | | | | 10. Find professional help when/if warranted. |
| fresh and alert. | | | | The intervention of a mental health facility, psychiatrist |
| 4. Make a date to go out for lunch, dinner or just | | | | and/or therapist provides safe and neutral support to |
| coffee or an ice cream cone. | | | | your loved one and takes the guesswork out of how |
| The lack of structure to one's day reinforces | | | | to help depression. Professionals assume the |
| monotony and isolation. Getting them out of the house, | | | | responsibility of your loved one's medication and |
| even to simply walk around the Mall, provides a | | | | psychotherapy treatment, which relieves the pressure |
| distraction from negative thinking and promotes a | | | | on you. |
| healthy state of mind. | | | | |