After my post the other day about depression I thought I’d share some advice for the carer of people who suffer from depression. If you’ve never been there it can be very difficult to understand why the person you love just doesn’t seem to care about anything… including themselves. Often when a person finds the strength to admit that they are suffering from depression they can be met with the response, ‘Oh I’ve had that before.’. Although this comment is meant to be supportive it isn’t. It shows a flippant attitude towards the mental illness and a person who truly has suffered from actual depression would never respond that way. Below are 10 things you shouldn’t say to a person who is depressed, without knowing you could cause offence rather than help;
1.Things aren’t that bad, there are people out there who are worse off than you are.
A depressed person already knows this, they know they shouldn’t feel so down, but they can’t help it.
2. Life’s not fair
This unhelpful comment may make a depressed person sink lower.
3.Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Depression is a mental illness that CANNOT be stopped easily. Depressed people don’t feel sorry for themselves, they don’t feel anything much and that scares them.
4. You’re always feeling down.
That’s the problem, there’s no need to point it out.
5. Try and think about something else.
Depression isn’t solved by just thinking of happy things. It’s a feeling as well as a thought.
6. It’s your fault
When a person is very low they cannot look after themselves. This can be a worry to friends and family who can also get frustrated when their loved one isn’t eating healthily or exercising. It’s a vicious cycle that is hard to break.
7. I know what it’s like. I was depressed once for several days.
This is extremely unhelpful and can make the sufferer feel inadequate.
8. Your depression is punishing us.
It is very very had for a depressed person to understand the effect their mental illness has on others and even more difficult for them to deal with it.
9. It’s all ‘me, me, me’.
This serious mental illness can make people feel terrible about themselves. To make someone feel selfish as well will not help their recovery.
10. I heard chamomile tea is good for that.
There are natural remedies than can be helpful but don’t let someone feel like a cup of tea will solve their problems. It won’t,
Please share this with your friends below.