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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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With around 300 million people suffering from depression worldwide, chances are that someone close to you is affected by this condition too. Sadly, the stigma surrounding mental illness is still very common, so it prevents people not only from seeking help but also to avoid talking about their ailment to family members and friends. Despite depression being one of the most common mental illnesses, those who have never experienced it don’t have the means and knowledge of how to support and help their loved ones. This only furthers the social isolation that depressed people might be already experiencing. So, now you are probably wondering what can you do to help someone with depression?

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

Twitter user, Aleeya, took to social media to explain what they could do to help their loved ones during a depressive episode.

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

These tips help us not only to increase understanding and empathize better with people who suffer from depression but also help save relationships.

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: aleeyaderige

After reading Aleeya’s tips, some people were prompted to add their own, others thanked her for sharing them and wished more people would understand the things she mentioned.

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After reading the thread people added their own tips

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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Here’s what others had to say

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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Image credits: TIFFANYSJOURNEY

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: alywilsonn

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

Image credits: luci_virgo

This Woman Gives Tips On How To Treat A Loved One During A Depression Episode

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31Kviews

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What do you think ?

Ozacoter 5 years ago

And please stop saying 'You are too negative', 'you are always complaining/ grumpy/ sad' o 'You just expected too much from life'.... This things break us, really.

39points

Ozacoter 5 years ago

I lost one of my best friends because of her saying them. She ment well but after that I was too selfconcious to tell her anything important... So I became super akward (after all I felt I had nothing important/positive enough to say) and we started talking less and less...

19points

Load More Replies...

Zori the degu 5 years ago

The part about always complaining and being grumpy really infuriates me, because I experience it on daily basis. My face looks bad most of the time and when I have someone tell me: "Hey, smile! Why are you angry?", I wanna punch them in the face. Well, I'm "angry" partly because I just look like that and partly because I hate people who do this and therefore I don't like you! I'm also complaining a lot, but you know what? I never complain for no reason. I complain because I have OCD and everyone are so messy. I complain because we don't do anything efficiently and always cancel good plans. I complain because people are sh*t and doing sh*t and I don't see anything good about it, except maybe as a good example of how you shouldn't be. But I already know how I definitely don't wanna be. People who could learn from such a display of idiocy wouldn't, usually because they are stupid af themselves.

5points

La Petite Morte 5 years ago (edited)

Because people, depressed or not, are complicated?

2points

John Smith 5 years ago

DEPRESSIVES: give them a lot of room, but not too much room, understand their plight, offer support, but not too much support, and make sure it's the right support, don't mind it when they're a pain in the a*s, or shut off, or too involved, or under involved, acknowledge their needs, but in the right context, ask if you can help, but don't assume they want your help, sometimes they don't, other times they do, and respect their sadness, it's all consuming, but other times not that consuming, understand they can function and are strong, but not when they're weak, or overly introverted, or pretending to be extroverted, support their needs................BECAUSE THEY ARE SOME NEEDY SONS OF BITCHES, except when they're not, they're really just like everyone else, but not comparable to 'everyone else' literally of course.

2points

Marnee DeRider 5 years ago

I read the first tweet and nothing else. "Having someone in your life with depression means being prepared for any and all episodes." No. "Someone in your life"? Maybe if they are your minor children. Otherwise, no. If you love and care about them, you should be caring, compassionate, try to educate yourself. But to be "prepared for any and all episodes" implies that you are in full control and fully responsible for that other person's mental state. No one can or should be given that responsibility. It's too much. It's ridiculous and selfish. I say this as a life-long sufferer of depression. It reminds me of the people with borderline personality disorder who instead of learning to function expect everyone around them to adjust and coddle the disorder with a long list of dos and donts.

21points

Barbara Hiller 5 years ago

I aggree a lot, but not completly. Being prepared can mean different things: if it means - be prepared to fix any episodes with your actions - of course, this is wrong. If it is just meant as: be prepared for the unexpected in knowing what may happen - then its completly fine!

12points

Load More Replies...

Mad Haberdasheress 5 years ago

You spoke what I was thinking! I have both borderline personality disorder and depression, which is a part of my PTSD. Yes, all three of those things suck beyond words and yes, some days it is almost impossible to hold myself together. That, however, is why I found a therapist who taught me DBT, how to live with my own symptoms and cope with my savage emotional swings. These things are my responsibility, no one else's. I am always profoundly grateful when someone understands what I am dealing with, but I jever expect it and I would never criticize someone else for not "accommodating" my issues.

6points

Phlop Ophlarb 5 years ago

I mean I get what you're saying, but if someone you know is having a hard time, don't ignore them cuz it's not your problem and they're a burden. I think what they meant by be prepared was just that--be prepared to be kind. Yes, it's not your family but that doesn't mean they are not deserving of a caring attitude. Be prepared to just be sympathetic and decent cuz it's jut so rare.

3points

Kai 5 years ago

Thanks you. I've been that "caring person" and in the end I gave up, I couldn't handle an adult who gave up in life and my life without messing one of them. I cannot count the number of times that I had to wake up in the middle of the night and went to his house, because an episone. The insults-love, the dependant behaviour... in the end I started to feel also depressed, that was the moment when I decide to leave all that sh**t.

0points

Monilip 5 years ago

I agree with you do much. Taking all reponsibility for one person's sickness (mental or phisical) is fast way to become depressed yourself.

0points

Shireen 5 years ago

I agree 100%

-2points

Victoria Swift 5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Colin Leetham 5 years ago

Other things to keep in mind: EVERYONE'S depression is different. Some folks can function to one degree or another, but after work shut down, unable to sleep/eat/function. It is also not fair to any depressive to "bootstrap" themselves better. You wouldn't expect a diabetic to start to produce insulin by just trying harder, so why expect a depressive to start producing neurotransmitters without help.

15points

Frozengeckolover 5 years ago

While that is true, everyone has to take some responsibility for their own illness. A diabetic shouldn't expect you to supply them with insulin, or keep track of their treatment. If a diabetic expected me to come to their house and cook low-carb foods for them, I would not feel obligated to do so. If they asked me for help with menu planning, I would admit I am not qualified to do that and they should seek professional advice. It is the same with depression. I will try to love you and support you, but I cannot be in charge of your recovery or your treatment. If you ask me for help, I will help you with what I can and I will tell you to seek professional help for things I cannot assist with. You can't get rid of depression simply by trying harder, but you still have to put in some effort. If you give up, why should expect me to pull your weight? I will be there to encourage you, while you work at it.

1point

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Ozacoter 5 years ago

And please stop saying 'You are too negative', 'you are always complaining/ grumpy/ sad' o 'You just expected too much from life'.... This things break us, really.

39points

Ozacoter 5 years ago

I lost one of my best friends because of her saying them. She ment well but after that I was too selfconcious to tell her anything important... So I became super akward (after all I felt I had nothing important/positive enough to say) and we started talking less and less...

19points

Load More Replies...

Zori the degu 5 years ago

The part about always complaining and being grumpy really infuriates me, because I experience it on daily basis. My face looks bad most of the time and when I have someone tell me: "Hey, smile! Why are you angry?", I wanna punch them in the face. Well, I'm "angry" partly because I just look like that and partly because I hate people who do this and therefore I don't like you! I'm also complaining a lot, but you know what? I never complain for no reason. I complain because I have OCD and everyone are so messy. I complain because we don't do anything efficiently and always cancel good plans. I complain because people are sh*t and doing sh*t and I don't see anything good about it, except maybe as a good example of how you shouldn't be. But I already know how I definitely don't wanna be. People who could learn from such a display of idiocy wouldn't, usually because they are stupid af themselves.

5points

La Petite Morte 5 years ago (edited)

Because people, depressed or not, are complicated?

2points

John Smith 5 years ago

DEPRESSIVES: give them a lot of room, but not too much room, understand their plight, offer support, but not too much support, and make sure it's the right support, don't mind it when they're a pain in the a*s, or shut off, or too involved, or under involved, acknowledge their needs, but in the right context, ask if you can help, but don't assume they want your help, sometimes they don't, other times they do, and respect their sadness, it's all consuming, but other times not that consuming, understand they can function and are strong, but not when they're weak, or overly introverted, or pretending to be extroverted, support their needs................BECAUSE THEY ARE SOME NEEDY SONS OF BITCHES, except when they're not, they're really just like everyone else, but not comparable to 'everyone else' literally of course.

2points

Marnee DeRider 5 years ago

I read the first tweet and nothing else. "Having someone in your life with depression means being prepared for any and all episodes." No. "Someone in your life"? Maybe if they are your minor children. Otherwise, no. If you love and care about them, you should be caring, compassionate, try to educate yourself. But to be "prepared for any and all episodes" implies that you are in full control and fully responsible for that other person's mental state. No one can or should be given that responsibility. It's too much. It's ridiculous and selfish. I say this as a life-long sufferer of depression. It reminds me of the people with borderline personality disorder who instead of learning to function expect everyone around them to adjust and coddle the disorder with a long list of dos and donts.

21points

Barbara Hiller 5 years ago

I aggree a lot, but not completly. Being prepared can mean different things: if it means - be prepared to fix any episodes with your actions - of course, this is wrong. If it is just meant as: be prepared for the unexpected in knowing what may happen - then its completly fine!

12points

Load More Replies...

Mad Haberdasheress 5 years ago

You spoke what I was thinking! I have both borderline personality disorder and depression, which is a part of my PTSD. Yes, all three of those things suck beyond words and yes, some days it is almost impossible to hold myself together. That, however, is why I found a therapist who taught me DBT, how to live with my own symptoms and cope with my savage emotional swings. These things are my responsibility, no one else's. I am always profoundly grateful when someone understands what I am dealing with, but I jever expect it and I would never criticize someone else for not "accommodating" my issues.

6points

Phlop Ophlarb 5 years ago

I mean I get what you're saying, but if someone you know is having a hard time, don't ignore them cuz it's not your problem and they're a burden. I think what they meant by be prepared was just that--be prepared to be kind. Yes, it's not your family but that doesn't mean they are not deserving of a caring attitude. Be prepared to just be sympathetic and decent cuz it's jut so rare.

3points

Kai 5 years ago

Thanks you. I've been that "caring person" and in the end I gave up, I couldn't handle an adult who gave up in life and my life without messing one of them. I cannot count the number of times that I had to wake up in the middle of the night and went to his house, because an episone. The insults-love, the dependant behaviour... in the end I started to feel also depressed, that was the moment when I decide to leave all that sh**t.

0points

Monilip 5 years ago

I agree with you do much. Taking all reponsibility for one person's sickness (mental or phisical) is fast way to become depressed yourself.

0points

Shireen 5 years ago

I agree 100%

-2points

Victoria Swift 5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Colin Leetham 5 years ago

Other things to keep in mind: EVERYONE'S depression is different. Some folks can function to one degree or another, but after work shut down, unable to sleep/eat/function. It is also not fair to any depressive to "bootstrap" themselves better. You wouldn't expect a diabetic to start to produce insulin by just trying harder, so why expect a depressive to start producing neurotransmitters without help.

15points

Frozengeckolover 5 years ago

While that is true, everyone has to take some responsibility for their own illness. A diabetic shouldn't expect you to supply them with insulin, or keep track of their treatment. If a diabetic expected me to come to their house and cook low-carb foods for them, I would not feel obligated to do so. If they asked me for help with menu planning, I would admit I am not qualified to do that and they should seek professional advice. It is the same with depression. I will try to love you and support you, but I cannot be in charge of your recovery or your treatment. If you ask me for help, I will help you with what I can and I will tell you to seek professional help for things I cannot assist with. You can't get rid of depression simply by trying harder, but you still have to put in some effort. If you give up, why should expect me to pull your weight? I will be there to encourage you, while you work at it.

1point

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