Caring for a Depressed Person

A depressed person is affected by various mood swings.  A person who is not severely depressed and has good coping skills can recover better.

However, a person whose coping skills are not well developed may need professional intervention and also a lot of social support to come out of the depressive condition.

As a member of a family or a person related to a depressed individual, you can take a few steps to watch out for the depressed and provide the best care and support you can.  If you notice that a person is consistently dull, depressed, morose or expresses feelings like running away, harming themselves or expresses a desire to not live, it is best to encourage the person to seek the help of a professional psychologist or counselor.

Be a participant and help the person in the therapy and activities suggested by the counselor.  Take care to give timely medication (if prescribed) to the person.  Maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm at home.

Do not press the person to confess to you, and make them speak.  Do not push them too hard to tell you what is bothering them.  Ask them if they need your help or assistance in any particular task and allow them to ventilate their feelings when they feel like it.

Adequate rest and relaxation is also necessary.  You may also introduce the person to gardening or taking care of pets so that the person breaks away from the thoughts that depresses him/her.  Besides, contact with plants, water, nature and pets also has a therapeutic effect and helps the healing process.

Do not make their condition very obvious.  Do not blame them or coax them to come out of it sooner.  Understand that the process takes time.  Be patient, encouraging, understanding and supportive.  Do not make them dependent on you; allow them to deal with it using their own resources.