If a friend or family member you love is battling depression, helping them can appear to be a challenge. You might be feeling helpless or confused about what you should do to offer support and compassion. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to provide depression support.
At Crossroads Maine, we understand the challenges that depression presents. However, we also recognize that treatment can help your loved one address these challenges. Getting support from our treatment experts can help your loved one get the care they need. Reach out to Crossroads Maine today by calling 877.978.1667 for assistance today.

Supporting Your Loved One With Depression By Learning the Signs

One of the first things you need to do to support your loved one with depression is to understand this severe condition. This mental health condition can affect people from every walk of life, whether they’re young or old. It can cause tremendous pain and hurt both the person struggling with depression. Therefore it’s critical to learn and understand the symptoms. These vary from person to person, but they may include:

Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, or sadness
Experiencing angry outbursts, frustration, or irritability
Loss of interest in hobbies, sports, or sex
Extreme changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Loss of cognitive function
Feelings of tiredness

Recognize Signs of Worsening Depression

If you’ve recognized the signs of depression in someone you love, another thing that you need to be aware of are the signs that their condition is getting worse. You will recognize the symptoms that your loved one usually experiences and how they talk about them. When their condition gets worse, those symptoms and language will also change. If you’re noticing their symptoms getting worse, you need to encourage them to seek treatment as soon as possible. They may also need to start eating healthier meals, stay physically active, and get more amounts of sleep.

Those with worsening depression are also at a heightened risk of suicide. They may begin feeling suicidal or talking about how the world would be better off without them. In such cases, you should take action immediately. There are a number of ways to provide depression supports for those struggling with suicidal thoughts, including:

Talk to your loved one about your concerns.
Call the suicide hotline.
Ensure your loved one is in a safe place.
Call the authorities if your loved one is in danger of suicide or self-harm.
Seek treatment for them.

Encourage Your Loved One to Get Treatment

If you recognize the symptoms of depression in someone you love, one thing that you can do to support them is to encourage them to seek treatment. Many people battling depression might not recognize that they’re suffering from depression. They also may not notice the signs or symptoms of depression because they think these emotions are normal. Alternatively, they might feel ashamed of their condition and believe that they should be able to defeat depression using only willpower. However, it’s critical to recognize that depression usually doesn’t get better without care. In fact, in many cases, it can get worse. However, with the right care, your loved one can recover.

Contact Crossroads Maine Today

At Crossroads Maine, we want to support those struggling with mental health conditions, such as depression. We offer a range of treatment options, such as:

Don’t let your loved one suffer from depression alone. If your loved one requires depression support, we can help. Contact Crossroads Maine today by calling 877.978.1667 to learn how we can help your loved one overcome depression and other mental health conditions.