how do i help someone with severe depression?
Question:
Right now, all i do is passively let her know that i care and i am not 'troubled' by her condition, but at the same time, i do care for her. I also pray for her.
she have attempted suicide several times through overdosage as well as sliting her wrist.
Let me know of a better way to help her.
Answers:
Being her friend shows what a compassionate and concerned person you are. However, remember that you are not a doctor, and that she does require mental health experts to help her with her depression.
Encourage her to make an appointment with a psychiatrist and to see a therapist regularly. Offer to go to her appointments with her, and watch to be sure she is taking her medication. (She obviously should be on medication). If the medication isn't working, have her contact her doctor immediately so that changes can be made that will put her back on the right track.
Go for walks with her (excercise is very important), watch funny movies, and try to talk about funny things. Find out what her interests are and encourage her to indulge in those interests (ie: crafts, music, writing, etc.).
She can turn around her lack of self confidence, by discussing her problems with her therapist. Perhaps she didn't learn proper hygiene, wasn't allowed to use makeup or didn't know how to do her hair. Maybe these are some of the things you can do with her to help build her self-confidence, and it will be a bonding experience as well. Let her know you are confident that things will turn around for her and that you consider her a good friend. If she was abused, mentally, physically or sexually, she needs to discuss this with her therapist and perhaps joining a support group would help her as well.
Once she starts responding to the proper medications, her life will look much better to her. Trust me. If she threatens suicide, always call for help and never leave her alone during this time.
Good luck! You're a great friend!!
Other Answers:
Convince her to get hospitalized. She can get the best care there, and be on suicide watch.
there's nothing YOU can do..get her to a doctor..unless you want to be attending her funeral! Get her a copy of the book "Feeling Good, the New Mood Therapy" by David D. Burns, M.D.
It is a thought-process-correcting book with better results than pills, in various studies. I myself take pills, but I also find that I think every thought identified in this book that triggers depression.
1-800-SUICIDE 1-800-273-TALK
1-800-784-2433 1-800-273-8255
Keep these numbers handy. Give them to her. You really can NOT do anything but be there when you can.. This is a fight she must fight and no one can do it for her.. You are a good friend.. And a blessing to her..
God bless & Hugs from Texas. {:-)
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You are doing the best thing you can do for your friend : you remain her friend through thick and thin. If she has attempted suicide, she has doctors already. Always be a good listener for her, and don't offer advice. Just listen, and ask questions in response. She is the only person on earth who actually knows what her real problems are. If you remain friends with her, you are giving her the greatest gift you can. Good luck. The best way is to be there for that person.Don't put any pressure as in making them feel bad for feeling bad.Many people just want to be heard,so say little and listen more,and if your gonna say anything the best thing to say is that everything is going to be okay and that you will be there for them.If you feel that the situation becomes serious ,like if there suicidal or thinking of hurting themselves,then you need to call the paramedics or police to prevent this.
well u just need to be there for her. if she doesnt see a therapist i wld encourage her to do so. she if she isnt on them, may need to look into taking meds. its a scary time for her and i am sure that she is miserable and very embarrassed about it. i had a nervous breakdown 3 weeks ago and on lithium and it is so hard because the meds take forever to work it seems. u sound like a great friend though. she is lucky to have you.
You are a good friend and she is very lucky to have you. But she will need more help then you alone can give.
A doctor will be able to give medication , this is the first step. It will ease her fears and able her to see a councillor who can teach different ways to cope with her fears.
We all handle stress and fear differently, and sometimes we need to change our coping skills so that we react to life's problems in a positive way no matter what it throws up at us.
This will not be easy for her or you, and sometimes it will seam that she is going backwards rather then forwards. But it does work and she will become a better and stronger person for her experience.
Tell the person you care alot, and if she was gone you would hurt terribly. Tell her she is important to you and her frienship is needed. Make her feel like she has someone to turn to. Depressed people are best helped by a therapist.Others can do three things 1)convince them to consult or take them to a therapist ,2)permit "emotional catharsis" ie allow the depressed to speak,write their feelings and listen to all their real or imagined worries and 3)prevent a suicide----suicide is almost always attempted when the individual is gradually going into depression or while recovering from a bout of depression--and during these periods friends and relations have to observe them more carefully.
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