Advice on depression please

Question

A friend of mine is depressed and she refuses to go the doctors. She is lethargic most days and doesn't seem to get dressed because as she says - whats the point.

I don't live nearby so I can't go around every day and be with her and was after some advice I could pass onto her please. Maybe things she could do each day that would instill abit of life back into her.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Exercise is a great treatment for depression. Try to get her to go to a gym or go for a brisk walk.

Answer 2

HI SHE COULD JOIN A GROUP MAKE NEW FRIENDS GO TO LIBARYS TO TRY MAKE NEW FRIENDS SHE COULD JOIN A DATING SITE ON HERE

Answer 3

Make an appointment yourself on her behalf with her gp, and go and pick her up - go together, give her moral support.

Answer 4

If she is depressed because of something that happened, getting out and about is the best medicine. Make a lunch, dinner or movie date once week with her. Encourage her to volunteer, or join a group for something she's interested in.

If she is clinically depressed, that means she is depressed without a cause- it just came on. If that's the case, she must see a doctor because it won't go away or get any better without treatment. There is no stigma anymore with depression. Most areas have low or no cost mental health help.

So, give it your best guest and take the appropriate action. I hope she feels better soon.

Answer 5

man im sorry being in ur shoes sucks. trust me i know. you got to get other people to help on this one for sure. not parents nothing like that. friends trust me telling someone to go see a doctor is the worst one unless its to the point of self mutilation. dont make promises to see her dont tell her if your even thinking about it but suprise her one day. happy suprises can help anything no matter how minuscule  

Answer 6

Here is a really simple exercise for your friend. Get her to stand in front of a mirror - AND SMILE!!! Despite how silly this sounds, it releases endorphins (happy chemical) in the brain which could uplift her mood. Even if the smile is forced, standing there long enough - she cant help but smile back genuinely.  

Answer 7

I have been clinically depressed/bi-polar for 11 years now and am only 27; I was ignorant on what I had for more than 4 years due to the stigma of depression being just about being "sad".

Sometimes the uninformed outside world can't tell when someone is depressed due to seeming happiness, but in this case other tell-tale signs to the outside world include irritability, lethargy (as you said), confusion/bad attention span, lack or growth in appetite. Internal conflict  includes lack of identity, recurring pessimistic thoughts, unnecessary guilt, basically everything being bad/uncomfortable and/or insignificant.

There are so many more factors (many conceptual and hard to explain); whilst not a professional opinion, I think that your friend almost certainly has depression. You must convince to seek help (and accompany her for support), as her life will not evolve without this.

Wish her all the best and luck and to be productive and realistic with tackling this. Again, support her in the beginning by accompanying her to the necessary places, but try not to be over-bearing after a sensible amount of time.

Answer 8

Hello Poppet,

True Depression will not go away by it'self.

No amount of support or advice will make any difference,unless it is professional.

Your Friend needs Medical help on this one,Unless she is ready to accept it,sadly there is very little you can do.