Ways To Comfort Others And Cope With Depression And Anxiety
You play a role in supporting your family and friends!
Many people we know become depressed for different reasons. For many it's a regular occurrence. Here's what to do to help:
What to do:
- Listen carefully to what they say and how they feel
- Sympathize
- Tell them how much you care and love them; you would miss them if they are gone
- Reason with them- make sure they are safe and if not call 911 or if on phone ask them to call 911 or get help
- Contract for safety- make sure they promise (if over phone) they will call 911 if they feel worse
Some Coping Skills For Depression and Anxiety
Try these coping skills. They are proven to work really well. I myself like to journal, pray, take deep breaths and talk to a friend. Go here for even more info on coping skills.
- Be flexible. Know what you can change and what you can't, go with the flow, be open to changes.
- Laugh more. Watch a funny movie, tell a joke, read the comics.
- Breathe slowly, deeply, and well. Relaxation begins with slow, deep breathing from your diaphragm.
- Learn to say "no". It's hard to say no sometimes, but recognize you can't do everything, pace yourself.
- Go ahead and make mistakes. No one's perfect. The only way we really learn is from our mistakes. Accept them as the natural process of growing in wisdom.
- Play... with a lover, a friend, a child, a pet. Having fun is the natural way of lowering the body's stress hormones. Stress tenses, play loosens.
- Get active. Exercise brings out the body's endorphins, natural pain-killers and pleasure-producing substances produced inside every one of us.
- Eat well and avoid stimulants. A healthy diet makes the body strong and increases a sense of well-being. Watch those double-lattes. Caffeine and nicotine put more stress on our musculature and nervous system.
- Talk to others. Sharing life's difficulties and problems with another person, whether a co-worker, friend, spouse, lover, or counselor, allows one to shed the weight of burdens shouldered alone.
- Face your difficulties. Problems have a tendency to mount quickly, until there can seem so many as to be overwhelming. Tackle them one at a time. Set achievable goals. Your day will seem appreciably lighter after even one dreaded task is tackled.
Plus. . . - Allow yourself to mourn. Changes, even good changes, can bring a sense of loss for how things used to be. You have the right to grieve this loss. In fact, everyone needs that time. . . to adjust, to reminisce, to care, to process.
If you suffer from excessive stress, anxiety, or panic attacks, you may wish to consult with a psychologist or other mental health professional.
Helpful Hotlines and websites
National Suicide Prevention LifeLine
Are you in crisis? Please call 1-800-273-TALK
Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.
- Call for yourself or someone you care about
- Free and confidential
- A network of more than 140 crisis centers nationwide
- Available 24/7
(Other lines to call -in New England is Samaritins: http://www.samaritans.org/ This website has numbers for UK as well. And you can become a volunteer! It's a great way to give back.)(Also, if you need, there are Warmlines- these are local mental health lines run by peers instead of calling an emergency line--If you just need to talk. This website lists several states with warmline numbersAnd you can ask your therapist or psychiatrist for more info on Warmlines.
Please note this hub was written by ME...with help (provided links) from other sources.
~May God Bless You Today, and Always~
