Can you convince a depressed person to get help?

Elsewhere

New Scientist has many articles about treatment for depression (most of which involve medication or zapping the brain with electricity!). However, there was a simple therapy it mentioned which had proved helpful in some cases, which you could try on your friend without them knowing and seems unlikely to me to do any harm if it doesn't work.

(I'm sorry, but I can't locate the actual article right now)

Evidently, an effect of depression is to make your memory worse - make you forgetful - I suppose you forget how to be positive and happy - so the therapy is a form of memory training. You ask them to recall happy times from their past; get them to describe them in as much detail as possible. (Try not to take the lead, get them to find the memories)

You have to keep at it - if it is going to work it will take a few weeks to happen. The researchers say there is an effect on brain chemistry, and there is a positive feedback effect, if it starts to work it will get easier and easier for the person to improve.

I don't know if it's better to tell them what you are trying to do or not - if you tell them they may refuse to give it a go, I suppose.

andygb

I have had depression in the past (very severe - didn't want to go out of the house), and I have depression at the moment.
Sadly, I don't really have many words of advice, because everyone is different, and there is not some miraculous "cure all" treatment.
I don't like taking medication, so tablets were not for me.
However, getting out of the house and going for long walks does help - quite a lot.

nom_de_plume

Elsewhere wrote: »

You ask them to recall happy times from their past; get them to describe them in as much detail as possible. (Try not to take the lead, get them to find the memories)

Going to try this on my OH tonight!

This is the first time I've seen it referred to as a treatment but can certainly recall times when we have sat and remembered happy past events and the positive effect it has had on her mood.

Exercise as mentioned above is a great therapy too. I don't suffer with depression (other than as a carer) but have many a time got for a flat out bike ride to let off steam. It never fails!

AlexLK

Please try to be there for her and make sure she knows that she can contact you if needed. Though don't try to force the situation. Also take care of yourself.

esmf73

A good book is how to cope when they are depressed, or something similar. I found it very useful when coping with my husband and I refuse to let it go as I strongly believe he is bipolar so the black times will return.

rpc

esmf73 wrote: »

A good book is how to cope when they are depressed, or something similar. I found it very useful when coping with my husband and I refuse to let it go as I strongly believe he is bipolar so the black times will return.

Don't confuse bipolar and unipolar depression.

Unipolar is just plain old depression but it can come and go. When the depression isn't there, you are just normal.

Bipolar is where people alternate between mania and depression, with no settled "normal" in between. Of course, there can be spells of normal too, but the distinguishing feature of bipolar is the mania. It is far less common than unipolar.

If depression comes and goes and comes back again, it doesn't mean you are bipolar. If there's no mania, it's probably unipolar.

olgadapolga

I've had PND although it took me MONTHS to accept that there was a problem and to seek help. Thanks to a wonderful GP and counsellor the issue was dealt with quite quickly.

I've also suffered PTSD; counselling was recommended but was completely useless. The woman just didn't listen so I quickly gave that one up. I've moved past it all now, thank goodness.

The point I'm trying to make is that different people may need different solutions and that sometimes the same person needs different solutions. A good GP is essential, maybe your friend needs to change her GP?

And then there is the other side of things, those people who, deep down, WANT the problem - my sister is a prime example. She's had depression for almost 40 years, goes on anti-depressants for a few weeks, stops taking them, mood plummets, refuses counselling, goes through months of misery then goes back to the GP for antidepressants again. She seems to "enjoy" wallowing in her own misery otherwise she'd get the help she needs. I used to hate talking to her on the phone as it was always "me, me, me". It used to drive me up the wall as she refused to get the help we all knew she needed, just so she could wail down the phone about how rubbish everything was and be the centre of attention. She's probably still like it - being as we no longer speak, I don't have to put up with her spreading her misery on everyone else.

CharlieRabbit01

for me when i was depressed I got fed up of people talking about it and telling me what i should do.

Those closest to me say down with me one day to discuss how they felt, their thoughts and the counselling doesnt mean weakness etc and said that they wouldnt mention it again unless they felt I was in danger.

of course I was just annoyed at them for the "meeting" but they stuck to their word and eventually i arranged to see my gp myself and went to a couple of counselling sessions. and now depression free.


but each person is different, for me i felt worse when people kept going on at me, but i've always been an independent person and never liked being told what to do.