Overcoming Depression: How You Can Help Sufferers

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Overcoming depression: It is often very difficult for those affected to get out of the downward spiral. You can find out how you can best help with this here.

According to the Robert Koch Institute In Germany around ten percent of the population suffer from depressive symptoms. So even though the mental illness is quite widespread, many do not know how to help affected friends, partners, or family members.

Here you can find out which symptoms indicate depression, what to look out for when dealing with a sick person and how you can best support them.

Symptoms of Depression: These are the signs to look out for

Depression can lead to suicide attempts.
Depression can lead to suicide attempts.
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Free-Photos)

It is not that easy to tell if someone has depression. Symptoms and intensity can vary significantly. It is therefore important that you observe the other person closely.

These Symptoms can indicate depression:

  • Sadness, depression, joylessness
  • Listlessness, Loss of interest
  • Difficulty concentrating and decreased efficiency
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Isolation from family and friends
  • Irritability, aggressiveness and aloofness
  • Loss of appetite
  • sleep disorders
  • increased pain
  • Chest pressure or difficulty breathing

If the signs go beyond two weeks and are not consistent with a person’s habitual behavior, it is likely that depression is present.

If left untreated, depression can become chronic and even lead to suicide. For this reason, it is important to encourage affected people to seek professional help and to support them in their everyday lives.

Overcoming Depression: How You Can Help

Open conversations and trusting relationships help overcome depression.
Open conversations and trusting relationships help overcome depression.
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Free-Photos)

Depression should definitely be taken seriously. If you feel a loved one suddenly withdrawing and showing symptoms, you should seek conversation. Show understanding to the person concerned and approach them with specific questions. It is important to proceed cautiously so as not to press your counterpart.

Depression should definitely be treated professionally. However, it is often not that easy for those affected to ask for help. You can help them shed their shame. Perhaps going to a therapeutic specialist is still an insurmountable hurdle. Then encourage the person concerned to go to their home practice first and get advice. It will certainly be easier for her if you accompany her.

It is also important in everyday life that those affected receive support. With these tips you can help create a Overcome Depression to be able to:

  • Inform you about the disease. This will help you better assess the symptoms.
  • Prove to the person concerned that they can count on you. Offer your help without imposing yourself. It is important that you keep your offer if she asks for it.
  • Give to your counterpart Affection. This can be a hug or a confidential and open conversation. Accept the boundaries the other person is showing.
  • Be patient. Healing from mental illness is a process with ups and downs.
  • Get courage and give hopethat depression can be overcome.
  • Affected people often have problems getting up. Offer to structure everyday life together and set priorities.
  • Support by accompanying the person concerned with errands.
  • Praise progresseven if they are minimal. For sick people, they may be an immense effort.
  • Encourage the person concerned to light activities. Exercising in the fresh air is especially great. Perhaps you can even convince your counterpart to take you for a half hour walk in nature on a regular basis.
  • It is important that a depressed person get regular social contacts Has. Encourage them to meet and share with friends. A small group of trusting friends is often more helpful than many acquaintances.
  • Make sure that the person concerned well nourished. The listlessness can lead to resorting to fast food or ready meals. Cooking together can help her absorb the nutrients she needs and then feel fitter and healthier.
  • If possible, encourage the person to exercise. You can arrange to meet in person or digitally. More ideas here: Workout at home: ideas for sports in your own four walls.
  • Be sure to take death threats seriously and get the appropriate help, for example from a psychiatric emergency service.

In all of your efforts for the data subject, it is important that you take care of yourself. Know your limits of resilience and don’t be afraid to ask for support as well. Under no circumstances should your own health suffer as this will damage both of you. You are not responsible for the suffering or the healing of the other, you can only be there and help within the scope of your possibilities to be able to overcome the depression.

Read more on Techzle.com:

  • Weight, personality, depression: this is how vegetarians and meat eaters differ
  • Stages of Grief: How to Learn to Cope with Deaths
  • Avoid autumn depression: this is how you fight the autumn blues

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