Helping a Loved One Deal With Depression

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Depression is a debilitating disease that can not only affect the sufferer, but also their friends and family.
Because this disease has many different causes and types, many doctors will often prescribe antidepressants.
This is not a good idea for many reasons.
One of them is that many of these medications have side-effects that can damage the patients vital organs, like the kidneys, liver, and stomach.
Even those many people who suffer started at an early age, and many medications are not recommended for patients under 18.
In some cases these people can also develop others symptoms that have nothing to do with depression at all.
If you think someone you know or love is suffering from depression, there are many ways you can help them.
The number one way you can help is by educating yourself on the signs and symptoms of depression, and what types there are out there.
Your next step is to find out what natural alternatives there are to antidepressants, and there are many.
One that you can do is get them out of the house and do something, even if they do not want to.
Staying inside, locked away from the world, only makes the suffering worse.
You can help a person with depression stay away from antidepressants by taking them with you when you go on trips, whether just across town, or on vacation.
Do not worry about paying their way, you are their friend.
Take them out to the park, ride a bike or walk around with them.
If you a hunter or enjoy fishing, take them with you and get them involved in some of the activities you enjoy.
Do not tell them you understand the depression they are going through, but you can tell them that you are trying to understand.
You can let them know that you are educating yourself, and that you are going to be there for them.
You can tell them the alternatives to antidepressants, and what some of them are.
You can also bond with them, be attentive to their needs, and above all, be patient, even if they lash out at you in times of deep depressant moods.
Never ever give up on them, no matter what.
Depression is something that does not have to ruin someones' life, and can be healed over time.
Time is the key factor in healing the symptoms of this disease, and antidepressants are just a quick fix and do not resolve the underlying problems.
There can be many different causes of depression.
Some of them can be a traumatic situation in their childhood, like a death of a person close to them, or some kind of abuse.
There could be some kind of other chemical imbalance involved, like bipolar disorder, or thyroid and glandular problems involved.
One of the things you should never do when helping a person with depression is tell them to get over it.
They will not just get over it, and doing so may even make things worse.
Antidepressants are not the answer, and never try to suggest this as a way to alleviate their symptoms.
If you are not sure about what to do, contact agencies that deal with clients that have depression and get ideas from them.
You can also find many different support groups.
As a friend or a loved one, you can not just ignore the fact that someone you know is suffering from depression.
Doing nothing about it is just as bad as if you helped make it worse.
Many people who knew someone that took their own life as a result of having this disease often say things like, "if I had only known".
Well the truth is that it is very likely there were outward signs, and you just did not recognize them.
One of the signs of depression is the person starts to become withdrawn, and does not interact with you in the ways they once did.
Chronic illnesses can also be a sign of depression as well.
Visit with the person suffering depression often.
Whether they may be taking antidepressants or not, you have to make sure they get out and do something, with you.
Keep reassuring that you are there for them, and if they ever need help that they can turn to you for it.
Suggest that they contact support groups in your area, and go with them.
This is not just to support them but so that you can better understand the people who suffer from this disease.
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