Clinical depression is a psychological disorder associated with feelings of intense sadness, accompanied by hopelessness, low energy and loss of meaning of life. Apathy and spiritual anguish last for weeks or months and daily activities such as dressing, eating and so on, are major obstacles for a depressed person.
In struggling with depression, not just the sick person suffers, but also his friends. There are a number of depression -related stigma and prejudice, which is why most people hardly find a formula for effective communication with people who suffer from depression. Often, support materializes in aggressive approaches which delay healing even more. So, to avoid such aggressive approaches, here are ten things you should never say to a depressed person.
1. You are not trying hard enough, you could get over this.
Depression is a mental disorder, at least as dangerous as physiological disorders, such as chronic pain or other physical symptoms diseases. Strictly psychological manifestation of depression makes the perception of those around the disorder to be a wrong, which underestimates severity.
Never tell a depressed person that they don’t have enough willpower to overcome their condition, because the effect can bring only more suffering. The treatment of depression has nothing to do with ambition and will.
2. Nothing that bad happened to you.
While depression often begins after a traumatic event, like the death of a loved one, such incidents are not the only cause of disease. To say a person is suffering from depression that his mental state is not justified by a deeply dramatic event is a terrible injustice and an additional source of stress and anxiety.
Often patients with depression experience episodes of illness with no apparent cause, their source possible being that of medications, general medical conditions that favor the installation of depression (cerebrovascular disease, thyroid disorders etc.), menopause etc.
3. Do not take drugs, I do not believe in them.
Unfortunately, treatment of depression is not always effective when based only on psychotherapy sessions. Depressed people who reached the chronic stage of the disease need to be encouraged to comply with medical treatment prescribed by their doctor.
Psychopharmacology is a real science, with greater relevance than the opinion of people who have never studied psychiatry. The drugs prescribed by psychiatrists can prevent the most dangerous complication of depression – suicide.
4. Have you ever thought about suicide?
Suicidal thoughts are real and serious symptoms of depression and mentioning suicide can have destructive effects on the patient. Emphasizing a pathological obsession can lead to suicide in case of a person diagnosed with depression.
If the depressed person herself is talking about suicide attempts, the healthiest strategy is to listen actively, encourage him in the right direction and show empathy.
5. There are people with really serious problems, unlike you.
Again, underestimating the suffering of depression may accentuate even more anguish. Depressed people feel helpless against the overwhelming symptoms and may experience a deep sense of guilt and worthlessness and loss of meaning of life.
6. Do not pity yourself and fight with your problems.
Sharp sadness caused by depression is not a personal choice, but a symptom of the disease. Asking a person suffering from depression to overcome this state is like asking a cancer patient to stop the spread of cancer cells.
Instead, transmitting the idea that you are always a source of support willing to understand can be helpful in regaining mental balance.
7. Everyone is depressed.
A common misconception about depression comes from mistaken the actual psychological disorder with normal sadness, which persists for several days and is controllable by free discernment.
Being sad, disappointed or upset for a day or three does not mean you are depressed.
8. It’s your fault.
Whatever own opinion about the source of depression a person experiences, the patient should not be blamed for the state in which he is. Self-blame is already in the list of clinical manifestations of depression and may result in a rapid path to suicide.
9. I’m depressed as well, but I get over it.
Again, the confusion between feelings of sadness or sorrow and depression can make you say total inappropriate things to a depressed person.
10. It’s all about you.
Even if a person’s depressive manifestations seem a simple way to attract attention, they are real symptoms that indicate a vulnerable state.
Do you know anyone suffering from depression?
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