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HOW CAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS HELP THE DEPRESSED PERSON?

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If you are concerned that a family member or friend may be suffering from depression, start by having a proper understanding of what depression is. A depressive disorder is not merely a passing blue mood. People with clinical depression cannot simply "pull themselves together" and get better. Depression is the result of an alteration in brain chemistry. Without treatment, symptoms often get worse, and can last for weeks, months, or years. The good news? More than 80% of people with serious depression can be successfully treated with antidepressant medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.

Follow these suggestions to help a family member or friend:

Get Appropriate Diagnosis And Treatment - The most important thing anyone can do for a depressed person is to help them get appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The first step is for them to see a doctor and ask to be examined for depression. Once a treatment program is prescribed, helping may involve monitoring whether the depressed person is taking their prescribed medication, or encouraging them to stay with treatment until symptoms begin to abate (several weeks).

Offer Emotional Support - The second most important thing is to offer emotional support. This involves understanding, patience, affection and encouragement. Engage the depressed person in conversation and listen carefully. Do not disparage feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Always report them to the doctor. Invite the depressed person for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities. Be gently insistent if your invitation is refused. Encourage participation in some activities that once gave pleasure, such as hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities, but do not push the depressed person to undertake too much too soon. The depressed person needs diversion and company, but too many demands can increase feelings of failure. Do not accuse the depressed person of faking illness or laziness or expect him or her to "snap out of it." Eventually, with treatment, most depressed people do get better. Keep that in mind, and keep reassuring the depressed person that with time and help, he or she will feel better.

How Do You Know If You're Depressed?

There are many symptoms related to depression. Some of these include:

• Feelings of fatigue: no matter how much sleep you get, you still feel exhausted
• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
• Sleep problems: early-morning awakening and inability to go back to sleep or difficulty falling asleep at night. Some depressed people also sleep a great deal more than usual
• A change in eating patterns: for most depressed people this means a loss of appetite for food and subsequent weight loss. Some people, however, react to depression by compulsive overeating and rapid weight gain
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, backaches, digestive problems, or chronic pain
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that you once enjoyed, including sex
• Restlessness, irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Intensified self-criticism and diminished self-esteem
• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts

NOTE: Professional help should definitely be sought if a person is experiencing suicidal thoughts.