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Who to Talk to if You Are Depressed

When you feel depressed, it's best to talk about your thoughts and feelings with someone who can offer you support. Depression is an illness that can strike anyone at any time, but there are plenty of resources to help you cope.

  1. Significance

    • Talking to someone if you're depressed is one of the best ways to relieve depressive symptoms. Sometimes, just having a sympathetic ear is enough to start on the path back to a normal mood. In other cases, telling your problems to someone can help you find answers to things that have been bothering you.

    History

    • While the roots of psychology date back to the ancient Greeks, mental-health counseling made more significant strides in the early 1900s. People realized that there was a need to talk about depression and similar feelings with professionals who might be able to advise them. People have long been talking about their emotions with their friends and family, but the first counseling certification came about in 1925, establishing a whole new profession.

    Types

    • There is a wide variety of people to talk to if you're depressed. People usually go to friends and family members first. People who attend church or synagogue may choose to talk to their pastor, rabbi, or other religious leader. Another option is talking to a professional, like a mental health counselor or psychologist. For those who are still in school, there are usually school psychologists on staff, and sometimes teachers can offer support as well. There are even anonymous help lines for depressed people to call.

    Benefits

    • One main benefit to talking to someone if you're depressed is that you're getting your feelings out in the open. By talking about them, you are releasing the emotions pent up inside. Another major benefit is that the person you talk to can offer support and advice. You may just need someone to support you and listen to you, or you may be able to get some advice on how to handle your situation.

    Misconceptions

    • There are several misconceptions regarding talking to someone about depression. Many folks believe that admitting to suffering from depression is a sign of weakness. This is not true, as depression can happen to anyone, be it from a situational factor such as a breakup, death or job loss, or from a mental illness like major depression, cyclothymia or bipolar disorder. Another misconception is that talking about being depressed will make it worse. This is also untrue, as letting out one's feelings can be very liberating.

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