How to Cope With Depressed People

Depression strikes a wide range of people --- they may be your classmates, your co-workers, your friends and even your family. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that approximately 19 million American adults suffer from a depressive disorder in any given year. Those who suffer with depression often feel tired, sad, anxious and irritable --- making relationships and interaction difficult. No magic wand can erase the complications that depression brings. However, coping with people who suffer from depression is possible and will bring benefits to you and those in your life.

Instructions

• 1

  Educate yourself. Learning about the illness---and its symptoms---helps you cope by putting difficult behaviors in context. The symptoms of depression influence the way a person interacts with others. For example, a depressed person may at times be withdrawn and sullen or angry and irritable. While you will still be affected by these emotions, understanding their root cause will help you avoid the assumption that these behaviors are a personal attack. Reading books, attending local classes and participating in online education are all good ways to learn about depression.

• 2

  Encourage treatment. Coping with a depressed person becomes easier when he receives treatment. Depression is a very treatable illness. Mental Health America reports that 80 percent of people who seek treatment for depression show improvement. Unfortunately, fewer than half of those who suffer seek help. Your encouragement and positive attitude toward treatment may pave the way for the depressed person to recover.

• 3

  Find support. Coping with a depressed person can be emotionally taxing. This is especially true if the person is a close friend or family member whose depression is reoccurring or extended over a long period of time. Don't try to go it alone. You need the support of others who have been in your shoes. Support can be found online or through in-person support groups. Organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance can provide a strong support system enabling you to cope.