Hey guys, I have a friend that is extremely depressed, and I would like to help her out. Any of you guys or gals have experience with this, or any advice?

 

Does she recognize that she's suffering from it?
Does she want t do something about it?
Does she know why she's depressed?

If yes to all of the above, her doctor can give her a prescrip for an anti-depresant that will really help. I have a friend on Zoloft that is WAY better than before and I've been on Paxil in hte past, though I'm off it now due to some help from a marriage counselor.

Depression is not something to mess with. It can really screw you up.

 

Well she does recognize it, and does want to do something about it, and she doesnt know why shes depressed, she said she just got it one day a few years ago. She was on paxil too, but it gained her some weight, and she said it was like she was numb all the time.

 

figure out what makes her happy and then do that activity with her?

 

I know what she is feeling. I sometimes get real down, but just one day I'll snap out of it and be fine for a few months. Wife is trying to get me to see a doctor about it.

 

Yeah me and my friend were talking about her seeing a doctor, but she is afraid they might send her away or something...

 

Not a doctor or therapist here, but having a brother that is supposed to be on lithium ever since he came home from the Vietnam war, I have been enlightened somewhat to mental abnormalities...

People with depressive disorders usually have their family doctor to help them and they will be put on medications for that disorder. Only a professional mental health expert can diagnose what level of depression the patient has. They may have anywhere from a mild case of depressiveness to full blown bipolar ...

Most people do have bouts with the " blues" , and for the normal person the blues go away that day most of the time. A person with a depressive disorder will be hit with mental "triggers" that stimulate the brains start of a depressive episode, which is usually defined as blues that last over 2- 3 days. These "triggers" can be caused from the person being scolded, abused, blues during the holidays, divorces, deaths of loved ones, anything that requires ones own higher control over the emotions they are feeling. After the trigger is pulled, the person feels helpless , worthless, and sinks deeper and deeper in to their own mental abyss. ...

People that have a true depressive disorder lack the chemicals in the brain that controls the serious mood swings that if untreated, can lead to eating/sleep disorders, loss of weight, and even suicide. When the person mentions the desirabilty of ending it all, please do not ignore those comments, they are pleading for help...


The drugs that people are given to help with depressive disorders simply trim the brains ability to feel the stimulating emotions of mood swings. This works fine for some users of these mind altering drugs , but some are not comfortable with the feeling of losing total control of their emotional being. ...

I am all for a person using their OWN resources in working very HARD to control the depressive disorders, before having to use drugs. One needs to remember ( once again it depends on that persons LEVEL of disorder) that it is their brain that is doing this to them....

The depressive person may be able to thru the use of brighter lighting or avoiding those situations that make the "triggers" pull, make these episodes lessen. By using the power of their own mind they can help curb those depressive thoughts the very second they try to take over their mind, by immediately thinking of something positive. Getting a lot of literature to read and understand about WHAT is happening to them is a big step in using resistive measures to counter those depressive thoughts, therefore helping one to regain control of their emotions again. ...

This advice is just for the mildly depressive disorderd, but they are worth a try before one gets put on drugs. If this doesnt help, she needs to talk to her family doctor and make it plain to him/her , what she is going through. Do not let her go to a mental health facility and sign herself in unless she sees her family doctor first....

As to your "sending her away worry, remember this : Only her signature asking for help at the mental behaviour facility, her guardians sig, a person with POA over her sig, or a judge of the court, can legally allow the facility to hold her in treatment. With any of those sigs, then by law they are allowed to keep her in their facilty UNTIL they see her fit to be released (or the insurance money runs out) Do not ignore her depression, it will not go away without her own help or others, and it is a lifelong job to keep control over it. Good luck to her and you. jmo

 

Greg 79 f150 <- Yeah, exactly what he said! WOW!!

 

damn Greg, did you stay in a holiday inn express last night?

 

nope, the Hotel 6 and they left the light on for me.

 

Thanks for the good write up greg. I have done alot of research on the net and theres tons of information about what depression is, not enough information about how a friend can help though, thanks again greg.

 

excercise
http://health.msn.com/centers/depres...41461&GT1=8447

 

Thanks for the link jake, I know its hard to get moving when your depressed but I will give it a shot with her!

 

Most people do have bouts with the " blues" , and for the normal person the blues go away that day most of the time. A person with a depressive disorder will be hit with mental "triggers" that stimulate the brains start of a depressive episode, which is usually defined as blues that last over 2- 3 days. These "triggers" can be caused from the person being scolded, abused, blues during the holidays, divorces, deaths of loved ones, anything that requires ones own higher control over the emotions they are feeling. After the trigger is pulled, the person feels helpless , worthless, and sinks deeper and deeper in to their own mental abyss. ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can attest to this ....That's me

 

I wish it were that easy!

Before I was diagnosed, I thought the same way when I heard other people were having trouble.

Clinical Depression is often caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.

The brain not producing enough Melatonin can be a sign of seasonal depression and a lack of sleep. Taking Melatonin pills as directed and getting more sun light can help fix this. Sitting under some special fluorescent lights can also help.

Going to a good movie or some other activity will not have the full affect, as you would expect. Plus the little positive effect it has lasts might only last the length of the movie.

All of us can have let life get us down a little if we have a series of bad events happen say over the course of the week, but depression is a mental illness that is treatable with a series of different drugs that are available.

I take something called Cellexa. I no longer have trouble sleeping. I now enjoy doing the things that I stopped once I got depressed and I feel a lot better about my outlook on life.

During the times when these types of drugs weren’t available, people went on to live miserable lives and never got the full effect of the good things in life that make us happy.