How to Handle an Angry, Depressed Person

Depression causes many types of behavior, such as withdrawal, lethargy and sometimes anger. Clinical depression has a physiological cause; it does not happen just because your loved one has a poor attitude or any other problem within her control. A person with depression cannot help experiencing depression, but he can manage his symptoms and how he behaves towards others. While you cannot force your loved one into treatment, there are steps you can take to help her and yourself through this difficult time.

Instructions

• 1

  Care for and protect yourself first. You will not provide very good support if you allow your loved one to hurt you or treat you badly. Make sure you set down strong guidelines about how you will and will not let her express her anger and work through her depression.

  Talking about feelings, taking time apart and having a counselor or other trusted person to talk to all provide valid ways of dealing with negative feelings. Tell her how you feel when they she takes her anger out on you, and offer to talk about her issues at a time when she feels calmer and more in control.

• 2

  Educate yourself as much as possible about anger management and depression. Not only will this provide you with coping skills and a strategy, but it will allow you to have realistic expectations about your loved one's anger and depression treatment.

  You can share what you learn with him, but do not expect that he will enter treatment or seek other help because of what you learn. Seeing a therapist or finding a discussion group yourself can also help you cope with his mental health issues and allow you to vent feelings of frustration in a safe way with people who will not judge you.

• 3

  Support your loved one by helping her find and attend appropriate health services. Encourage her to seek medical and psychiatric services. Seeking such services can feel lonely and scary, and she will feel better knowing she can rely on you.

  Another way to support her can be by choosing your battles with her carefully. Offer to compromise on disagreements when it seems feasible and fair, and acknowledge her feelings without assuming responsibility for them unnecessarily.