Certain people struggle with certain things in their life, sometimes I don’t completely understand them. Depression is a growing mental diagnosis within a lot of people in todays world. After going through a long and difficult rollercoaster with someone I hold remarkably close to my heart I learnt important lessons and techniques to help support them the best way possible. And yes, every person is different so you may need to adjust to them personally. Being that person for them has its perks. Trust me!
I haven’t been depressed before, I sometimes struggle with ways to provide the right advice and become speechless but that is ok. You’ll find just listening to them does more than you might realise.
‘You are not in this alone’
If your friend has come to you for support or advise it means they feel comfortable enough to let you into their emotional circle and lean on you. Don’t make them feel like the way they are feeling is wrong or not “normal”. Most of the time all your friend is asking for is company, to feel a little less lonely and that their own company is valid and wanted in return.
I found in my personal experience majority of the time while they are going through certain episodes, their thought process is set to this downward spiral and it is almost impossible for them to look any other way. It is now our turn to try and counteract those ways of thinking, by showing and giving them other positive examples of how they ‘could’ see a situation to help them better understand the situation at hand. It helps to see from an outside perspective. Even using previous situations where they might have been the one giving the advice so they have an emotion and outlook to relate to.
There is never enough time you can tell someone you love them. But after doing all these things make sure you still make time to love yourself. Having to be that constant support for others around you over a period of time can really take its toll. Take a day, a week. Recharge your own batteries. You deserve the same care as you put out to others.
It is important to recognise when to stop, Remember you will be no help to anyone if you yourself are breaking down. Reach out to other friends. Friendships should always be a two-way street. Suggesting that professional help is never anything to be ashamed of.
