Depression and other related mental disorders are so rampant nowadays that almost everyone knows and talks about them. However, they remain a great concern too because not many people feel comfortable talking about them when they become depressed, anxious, or numb because of the fear of being judged by others. Indeed, these are undeniably grave but manageable issues with the potential to captivate anyone for just any reason. Having a depressed loved one can make you feel annoyed, anxious, and sad all at once, but becoming miserable yourself is counterproductive. Therefore, you must gather your strength and devise strategies to help your family member or friend successfully navigate their melancholic phases.
Having said that, there are numerous ways to show your support for a loved one who is struggling with depression and other mental disorders. What precisely are those methods of expressing support?
Look out for the signs
Identifying when things are about to go south is super important. If you pay heed to the signs, there are greater chances of saving your loved one from getting severely depressed or anxious. So, what types of symptoms are commonly noticeable? Some of them may include:
- Going through severe mood swings and tantrums
- Facing sleeplessness or overindulgence in sleep
- Getting involved in emotional eating and substance abuse
- Recurrent body aches, stomach aches
- Involvement in self-sabotaging activities
- Talking about suicide a lot or wishing to attempt it
- Avoiding people and gatherings
- Becoming non-communicative about most of the stuff
Validate Them
Many a time our loved ones do not promptly share their sadness, anxiety, or depression because they know their expression will be brushed aside. So, instead of telling or advising them to be thankful and stop complaining about stuff, try to validate them so that they feel heard. This attitude opens avenues for discussions and recovery.
Be a Non-Judgemental & Emphatic Listener
When you sit with a person who is going through some mental health challenge, it is extremely important to listen to them actively and empathetically. Do not interrupt their flow of thought or overpower them because this will lead to resentment in them. Avoid judging them for the way they are thinking and just give them your shoulder to vent out. This helps them get the due catharsis and feel better and calm.
Involve them in a self-care regimen
Self-care is one of the first things people facing depression, anxiety, and other problems give up on. So, do not force them but try to exemplify self-care and encourage them to join you when you get a massage done or sit to watch something interesting. This makes them feel valued and connected which helps in keeping the negative thoughts at bay.
Go out for a walk together
Basically, you must hang on to kindness when trying to help your loved one. So, another way of showing your concern and kindness can be through taking them out for a walk. A long, peaceful walk together in some park or close to nature brings a lot of harmony and peace and consequently helps in coping with depressive thoughts.
Try Meditation & Breathing Exercises Together
Another wonderful hack to help your dear one beat depression etc. is by involving them in meditation and breathing exercises. The mental images created during meditation help in nullifying the chaotic thoughts and breathing exercises help them relax instantly and eventually they manage to not fall prey to any mental disorder for long.
Encourage them to seek professional help
You can help your loved one fight depression or anxiety by helping them find professional help for their concern. With your consistent and kind efforts, they will understand and reach out to support groups, professional therapists, etc. This in turn will speed up the recovery process and ultimately they will beat depression or any other issue once and for all.
Indeed, it is an overwhelming and traumatic thing to see your loved one staying stuck in some mental disorder. However, you are their ultimate support system and therefore you must adopt these helpful ways to not just support them but also hold their hands and take them out of depression successfully. As a highly recognized mental health facility in Philadelphia, our therapists are well-equipped to provide you or your loved one with the needed help. Schedule a free consultation call with us here today to talk to one of our experts today.