What to not say to someone with depression

There is nothing better than a friend who specialises in listening and comforting. She needs someone to hold her when she cries, someone she can share everything with, someone that will make everything okay in the end. Words do matter, says Dr. Philip Muskin, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Chances are good you know someone suffering feelings of despair and anxiety, but you may not know what to say to that frien colleague or family member. Below is a list of helpful things to tell someone battling depression , followed by what not to say—courtesy of the Depression Alliance, a national organization that campaigns to end the stigma.

The last time your favorite sports team lost is not the same as depression , so you don’t need to reference that when you’re trying to comfort someone. Don’t say: “There are a lot of people worse off than you” or “You have many reasons to be grateful” I speak for everyone with depression when I say, “Yeah, we know. Knowing how to talk to someone living with depression. What Not to Say to Someone With Depression originally appeared on usnews.

I’m not happy you’ve increased your medication dose. As much as I understand your concern, it is not really your place to say whether or not you’re happy about the dosage of my medication. Things Not To Say To Someone With Depression. It should simply be something that comes from a place of compassion and acceptance.

Try not to be dissuaded by worry over saying the wrong thing.

If someone tells you they have depression , know that they are showing you part of the beautiful, messy, unpredictable frailties that come with being human. It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is depresse but know that it’s unlikely you can make anything worse. What to Say to Someone Who is Depressed. Even if you have the best of intentions, sometimes its hard to know what to say to a person with depression. Even as someone who lives with my own issues, I sometimes need to pull myself back from saying something that could be hurtful instead of helpful.

While you may feel inclined to help someone “cheer up,” being cheery may not be possible for them right now. In fact, here are seven things you should never say to someone with holiday depression —and some suggestions for how to talk about this touchy subject: 1. Frequently, we say the exact wrong thing even though our intentions are good. If someone you care about suffers from depression , here are things to say (and not say ) to support them through it. Letting loved ones know that they are not to blame for their depression communicates that depression is, in fact, a disease, not a choice.

Our words are powerful. The words we speak over our loved ones can build them up or tear them down. A neuropsychologist shares what not to say to someone with depression , anxiety or some other mental illness.

A hilarious yet serious story on depression and what not to say to a sufferer. Matt Charlton for The Book of Man. Yeah, life does go on, but for someone dealing with depression ,. On the flip side, here’s what not to say and why: “Cheer up. While telling someone to cheer up is okay in some contexts, depression is not one of them.

Don’t say : “There are a lot of people worse off than you” or “You have many reasons to be grateful” I speak for everyone with depression when I say , “Yeah, we know.

There’s no perfect way to respond when someone talks to you about something like depression. Depression isn’t just feeling sad and isn’t something someone can flick on and off. Just listening with an open mind can help them feel understood and supported. There are also simple things you can say to let them know you care about them and want to help. With the help of our friends at health.

The thing about depression is that it’s not something you can.