Find support when you have untreatable depression

This is an automatically translated article.

Do you or do you have a friend with major depression or major depression? If so, read this article to have a better look at depression, so that you can treat someone with depression, as well as find support when you have incurable depression.

1. Find Support When You Have Untreatable Depression

1.1. Tell your doctor or a trusted friend When you have symptoms of major depression or major depression, sometimes you need emotional support. There are some simple steps you can take to build “healthy habits” that can help you overcome negativity. These pick-ups are not intended to replace treatment for severe depression, acute anxiety, or other clinical problems. If you need help, tell your doctor or a trusted friend or family member.
1.2. Get rid of or organize your clutter Studies have found that when you're stressed by work, family, love, etc., visual chaos is transmitted straight to your brain. It distracts you and interferes with your ability to process information. Another study has shown that a cluttered house increases the stress hormone - cortisol, especially in women. Make a plan now to remove or organize your clutter.
1.3. Buy yourself something It doesn't have to be a place to shop for luxury electronics or a new designer wardrobe. Surely, something good can lift your spirits at this time. Studies show that the real magic of so-called retail therapy is the sense of control you have over your environment when you make your own choices. So, try some smart shopping to get you out of short-term sadness. Just make sure that your selection also fits your pocket.
1.4. Reading The fastest ticket to getting out of a bad mood is: reading passionately. Studies have linked reading to improved symptoms of depression, as well as mental flexibility and brain function. Make sure you enjoy reading, not news, computer manuals, or even your latest book club selection. Find a book you want to look at or an interesting magazine. Set aside at least 30 minutes a day to read a book.

1.5. Play with your pet In one study, college students who played for just 10 minutes with a nice dog or cat significantly reduced cortisol, a major stress hormone. Many college campuses have begun "stress-relieving pet" programs. Spend more quality time with your own pet, befriend a pet to cuddle and play with.
1.6. Get in tune with classical music Yes, classical music can help you relax and reduce stress. An Italian study found that fast-paced music can also help calm you down. After listening to fast-paced songs, the subject's blood pressure and heart rate calmed down.
1.7. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean meats A healthy diet can eliminate stress quickly and in the long term. One study looked at young adults who ate a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and lean meats for just a few weeks. They reported less depression than a group that didn't eat. Studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet, which includes whole grains and olive oil, can reduce depression in older adults.
1.8. Try acupressure To practice this ancient Chinese healing art, you press on certain points on your body to release tension. It can reduce anxiety and improve your blood flow. Try this simple move called the tang sound, which refers to the midpoint between your eyebrows. Sit back and relax. Place your thumb or index finger between your eyebrows. Press in small and gentle circles for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat several times a day.
1.9. Record the highlights of your day or week “Flow” is the state of your mind when you do something that challenges and completes you, without too much pressure on your performance. Think about dancing, cooking, painting, even cleaning the house, pursuits that fascinate you and put worries aside.
1.10. Walking in Nature Ecotherapy explores how quality nature time helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. A 2015 study found that people who took nature walks had lower activity in parts of the brain where negative thoughts can form. Start with a walk near home or an easy trail for about half an hour several times a week.
1.11. Listen to nature sounds One study shows that it can lift your spirits to listen to nature sounds and even just look at pictures of beautiful outdoor scenes or dream destinations . It's literally "outside" focus that can help clear your mind of negativity, researchers say.

1.12. Have an app for diagnosing or treating a condition like depression or anxiety Electronic technology is developing a variety of mental health apps by software for the platform of smart devices running android or ios , you never need to make an appointment. An app on your smartphone cannot diagnose or treat a condition like depression or anxiety, but it can help you manage them.
1.13. Maintain a support system of friends and family When you're feeling down, make time for friends and family. In other words, maintaining support from friends and family is an important part of helping you get through depressive episodes.
1.14. Find something funny Nowadays you can easily find many funny videos, funny or witty comedies or a friend telling funny stories,..Funny essay books, podcasts Humor or jokes from magazines are also great sources. The smiles from these will be very helpful for people with untreatable depression. Studies show that laughter has positive effects and is one of the best mood lifters for people with depression.

2. 10 things to do to support someone with untreatable depression

If your friend is suffering from major depression, he or she may have the following signs:
Sad or want to cry Be more pessimistic than usual or hopeless about the future Talk about feelings of guilt, emptiness or worthlessness Seems to be less interested in spending time together or socializing less than usual Is sad and irritable Has less energy, moves slowly, or often seems listless Less concerned with their appearance normal or neglect basic hygiene, such as bathing and brushing teeth Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual Little interest in usual activities and hobbies Forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, or difficulty making decisions Eating unusually little or too much Mentioning death or suicide Here are 10 things you can do as well as some things to avoid to help your depressed friends.
2.1. Listen to them Let your friends know you're there for them. You can start a conversation by sharing your concerns and asking a specific question. For example, you could say, “Looks like you've been having a hard time lately. What are you thinking?"
Remember that your friend may want to talk about how they feel, but they may not want advice
Interact with your friends using listening techniques active listening:
Ask questions to get more information instead of assuming you get what they mean Validate their feelings You can say, “That sounds really hard” Show empathy and care with your body language.The first time, your friend may not want to talk when you ask, so you can keep telling them you care about them.
Keep asking questions. Ask openly (don't push) and express your concerns. Try to have live chat whenever possible. If you live in different areas, try video calling.

2.2. Help them find support Your friend may not know they are dealing with depression or they may not be sure how to contact support.
Even when they know therapy can be helpful, finding a therapist and making an appointment can be difficult.
If your friend seems interested in counseling, offer to help them consider potential therapists. You can help your friend list things to ask the therapist and things they would like to cover during their first session.
Encouraging them and helping them make their first date can be very helpful if they are struggling.
2.3. Support them in continuing therapy On a bad day, your friend may not want to leave the house. Depression can drain your energy and increase your desire to isolate yourself.
If they plan to cancel the meeting, encourage them to see a psychologist.
You might say, “Last week your session really worked and you feel so much better after. What if today's session was also useful? ”
Same goes for drugs. If your friend wants to stop taking medication because of unpleasant side effects, support and encourage them to talk to a psychologist about switching to a different antidepressant or quitting altogether.
Suddenly stopping an antidepressant without a healthcare provider's supervision can have serious consequences.
2.4. Take care of yourself When you care about someone living with depression, you'll want to drop everything to be around and support them. It's okay to want to help a friend, but it's important that you take care of your own needs.
If you put all your energy into supporting your friend, you will have very little time left for yourself. And if you feel exhausted or frustrated, you won't be much help to your friend.

Set boundaries Setting boundaries can be helpful. For example, offer a specific time to talk instead of letting your friend call you anytime.
You can offer to drop by every other day or bring a meal twice a week, instead of trying to help every day. Inviting other friends to join can help create a larger support network.
Practice self-care Spending a lot of time with a loved one with depression can take a toll on your mental well-being. Know your limits on difficult emotions and make sure you take the time to recharge.
If you need to let your friends know that you won't be free for a while, you can say something like, “I can't talk for X hours. Can I contact you later? "
2.5. Educating Yourself About Depression Imagine having to educate each person in your life about a mental or physical health problem you're having - explain it over and over. Sounds exhausting, doesn't it?
You can talk to friends about their specific symptoms or how they're feeling, but avoid asking them to tell you about depression in general.
Learn the symptoms, causes, diagnostic criteria and treatment methods yourself.
Although everyone experiences depression differently, being familiar with the symptoms and general terms can help you have a deeper conversation with your friend.
2.6. Offer to help with daily tasks With depression, daily tasks can feel overwhelming. Things like laundry, grocery shopping, or paying bills can start to pile up, making it hard to know where to start.
Your friend may appreciate an offer of help, but they also may not be clear on what they need.
So instead of saying "Let me know if there's anything I can do" consider saying, "What do you need help with most today?"
If you notice their fridge is empty, say "Can I take you grocery shopping or pick up what you need if you write me a list?" or "Let's go get some groceries and cook dinner together."
If your friend is doing housework, washing dishes, doing laundry or other household chores, offer to come over, put on some music, and tackle a specific task together. You can also hire cleaning services to reduce the amount of work.

2.7. Renew Activity Offers People living with depression may have a hard time reaching out to friends and making or keeping plans. But canceling plans can contribute to guilt.
Canceled plans can lead to less invitations, which can increase isolation. These feelings can aggravate depression.
You can help reassure your friend by continuing to renew invitations to activities, even if you know they are unlikely to accept. Tell them you understand that they may not be able to carry out a plan when it's tough and that there's no pressure to hang out until they're ready.
Just remind them that you're happy to see them whenever they feel like it.
2.8. Patience Depression often improves with treatment, but it can be a slow process that involves some trial and error. They may have to try several different methods of counseling or medication before they find one that helps their symptoms.
Even with successful treatment, depression doesn't always go away completely. Your friend may continue to have symptoms over time.
Depression with no clear recovery schedule. Expecting your friend to return to their normal self after a few weeks of treatment is not going to help you.
2.9. Keeping in touch It can be helpful to let your friends know you still care about them as they work through their depression.
Even if you can't spend a lot of time with them regularly, check in with a text or phone call often. Even sending a quick message with content of interest to them can be helpful.
People with depression can become more withdrawn and avoid approaching, so you may find yourself having to work harder to maintain friendships. However, continuing to be an active, supportive person in your friends' lives can make a difference for them, even if they can't express it to you right now.
2.10. Know the different forms in which depression can occur. Depression is often associated with feelings of sadness or poor mood, but it also has other, less well-known symptoms.
For example, many people don't realize that depression can be related to:
Anger and irritability Confusion, memory problems or difficulty concentrating Excessive fatigue or problems sleeping physical symptoms such as stomach pain, frequent headaches or pain in the back and other muscles
Your friend may often be in a bad mood, or feel exhausted and what they are feeling is still part of the depression.
Even if you don't know how to help them feel better, just say “I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I'm willing to help if I can do anything” that might be helpful.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webdm