how do you guys deal with depressed folks in your life? how do you help them, support them, try to make their lives better? How do you deal with them resisting your attempts, lashing back out at you?
Firstly, I believe you have to make sure not to get sucked in. It's not easy to just hear always about the negative. That being said, make an effort to talk to depressed people. Do something to help them smile. Connect with their feelings and needs, and perhaps that will help them to see that they are understood, and help them start to come out of their state of depression.
I take them out to see a silly movie and eat candy and popcorn Or I take them on a bubble-blowing date
For clinical/major depression: Try to be there for them, encourage them to get cognitive therapy, and take any "lashings out" they may have with a huge grain of salt. Then again, I am pretty hard to offend. For sad friends: Show up with big bottles of liquor.
kayleigh.. being on both sides at different times.... its really hard and it takes real love. its mostly reminding yourself that you love them and that its not their fault. it can be tough though and anyone that stays with a severly depressed person in any way really has my apprieciattion.
Be there for them, show them that you will be there when they need someone. Even if they resist the help to begin with, stay with them. It's really hard when you are trying to help someone and they become angry at you asking them things. I would say, be tactical about asking what is really getting to them... don't go on too much.
I had a friend who was like crazy depressed cause her dad was really sick and dying and I just let her talk to me and I'd listen.
