I want to thank
the Florida Times-Union for it's article on depression, in the wake of
Robin Williams' suicide. Depression is an insidious disease, and there
are many people suffer in silence. I have dealt with depression all my
life, and I know there have been times where people have tried to shame
me because of it. If you suffer from clinical depression (ie, you're
depressed for absolutely no reason in particular, and can't seem to
motivate yourself to do anything), seek assistance. Just having a
counselor to talk to on a regular basis can be a big help. Getting out
of the house and going for a walk, or doing something out of your
ordinary routine can help too. Yes, maybe it's just a "quick fix", but
sometimes we need that to get back on track with our fight. Make no
mistake, fighting depression is a battle!
If
your friend or family member is depressed here are some tips on how to
help them. First of all, do NOT tell them any form of "get over it".
Trust me. They would if they could. Listen to them, even if it doesn't
make sense to you. Mirror back what they have said so they know that
they have been heard. Sometimes the depressed person just needs to be
heard. Talk to them about getting help, and offer to go with them. Take
them out for a walk if nothing else. Ask the hard questions, like "are
you thinking of killing yourself?" If their answer is yes, get them
help. If you are unsure what to do, call the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Also, don't be afraid of tough love. After listening to all the
problems, real or imagined, ask them what are they going to do to
resolve them. Do what you can to help them tackle problems, but do not
tackle them for them.
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