Offer non-judgmental understanding. “The best way to support someone who is depressed is to neither join them in their depression nor fight with them about it,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “Most of us either go into agreement with someone who is depressed or try and force them to cheer up. But neither strategy helps the depressed person or the one trying to help.”
Avoid offering disparaging opinions.
Invite your loved one to go out for walks and other outings, and also try to engage them in conversation.
Listen to your loved one when he or she feels like talking.
Support your loved one. This means offering them emotional support and encouragement without trying to “force” them out of their depression.
“The best thing to do is simply be fully present with them to love and support them as they are,” Dwoskin says. “You can also encourage them, if they are interested, to find out about letting go with The Sedona Method.”
The scientifically proven Sedona Method is an elegant, easy-to-learn, do-it-yourself system that will show you how to tap your natural ability to let go of any unwanted feeling, including all forms of depression, on the spot. It can be used in life to get immediate relief of symptoms whenever the signs of depression arise. So if your relative is open to it, it is a simple, non-drug way to get relief.
If your loved one talks about suicide, take it seriously and seek professional help.
Do not belittle your loved one’s feelings, but do remind him or her that the depression will eventually lift.
Avoid falling into a depressive state yourself. Depression tends to run in families, and it’s easy to begin feeling down if you’re surrounded by it. Protect yourself from depression by learning to keep a positive frame of mind.
Source
National Institute of Mental Health
Psychology Today
Families for Depression Awareness
“Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
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