Major Depressive Disorder Effects on the Family

Millions of people are diagnosed with Major or Clinical Depression. They are fathers, daughters, mothers, sisters and brothers. Depression can occur with anyone and does not discriminate by profession, gender, religion or race. Depression does not just affect the person living with it---it affects relatives, family units, friends, and even relationships with gods and religions. It is hard to see how depression would bother the family, especially if you are the one with depression.

Anger

• The family unit may express anger over the depression, possibly directed toward the depressed person or themselves or toward their own religion. It is hard for someone who has not dealt with severe depression to understand the pain depression causes. However, they may feel angry that the depression has taken away a member of their family and left him impaired and unable to enjoy simple things in life. The anger may be directed at the self for not being able to help or snap the person out of his depression.

Guilt

• The guilt that comes from having a depressed member of the family runs deep. Oftentimes other family members agonize over what they could have done to cause the illness. All they see is a debilitated person with no pressing interests, inclinations or plans for his life. It is not uncommon for depressed people to literally sleep their lives away and become stagnant. The family not only recognizes the depressed person's withdrawal from the family; they also realized that he has withdrawn from life altogether.

Helplessness

• The family deals with severe helplessness since they are unable to help the depressed family member. They also may feel helpless over his treatment. Not all anti-depressants work for everyone and often a depressed person will go through a cycle of drugs until he finds the one that works for him. Sometimes the person will have a depression that is drug-resistant, meaning that they have a life sentence of depression ahead of them, with causes even more helplessness in the family unit.

Shame

• It may sound harsh, but families may also be ashamed of the other member's impairment and be unable to describe it or help it at all. The family may be ashamed of the depressed member because of his actions and because they can do nothing to stop them. Depression may have severely disabled the mentally ill family member, leaving him totally unable to take care of himself, support himself and even maintain proper hygiene. This may lead to shame because of the ill family member's behavior and appearance.

Conclusion

• Despite not being able to find a miracle drug at the first try, there are antidepressants that can help to turn the situation around as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which may also help. If you or a family member is suffering, be sure not to give up too soon. It may take a while to find out which medicines can help.