Who to talk to if you have depression

Who do you call if you have depression? How to tell someone you have depression? How do I talk to someone about my depression? What to do when you are feeling lonely, lost and depressed?

Talking to friends and family about your depression can be a very positive experience.

Ideally, they’ll respond with encouragement and support. Think about people in your life who are thoughtful and caring — the good listeners, the people you feel close to, comfortable with, and know you can trust. A combination of the two approaches is often the best way to treat depression. What do you say to someone who’s depressed?

All too often, it’s the wrong thing. People still have such a cloudy idea of what mental illness is,” Kathleen Brannon, of Herndon, Virginia. But there are times and phases where you cannot get any help.

Not even a friend to talk to. But having support from others can be helpful. Try talking to your doctor or a therapist. They can help you get treatment to deal with depression.

You can also try telling family and friends how you’re feeling. It usually helps to take medication is you have major depressive disorder. You could be majorly depressed and it is situational. Taking meds could help you overcome it faster and help get. Consult a doctor, counselor, or specialized support group if you have a chronic illness or substance abuse problem.

If you have severe depression, you may be referred to a specialist mental health team for intensive specialist talking treatments and prescribed medicine. Living with depression Many people with depression benefit by making lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise , cutting down on alcohol , giving up smoking and eating healthily. This support is only available for people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

However, don’t expect friends or loved ones to replace your doctor, Levine says. Manage appointments and medication. Offer this help only if you ’re willing to do what is asked of you.

A patient, for example, can report on such things as daily moods, behaviors, and lifestyle habits.

If you have mild to moderate depression , talk therapy might be all you need to feel better. But if you have more severe depression , you might benefit from medication in addition to talk therapy. A professional, not you , is better able to tell if medication will help.

Often, the simple act of talking face to face can be an enormous help to someone suffering from depression. Encourage the depressed person to talk about their feelings, and be willing to listen without judgment. The deep despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain.

Depression is a major risk factor for suicide.