An Open Letter To My Friend Battling Depression.

Chances are good you know someone suffering feelings of despair and anxiety, but you may not know what to say to that friend, colleague or family member. Depression doesn’t play favorites. Men.

Find out how writing your thoughts in a journal can let you shift your perspective and help you manage the symptoms of depression.. Many people are surprised by what they write, says Denver.

Figuring out how to comfort someone with depression isn’t easy. Each person’s illness is unique, and the circumstances surrounding their situation are just as varied as their depression is. I’ll be honest, comforting a depressed friend or loved one is an uphill battle. I have boundless respect for anyone who has the desire to help those.

When someone you care about is depressed, offering advice or wisdom may be something you do with only good intentions in mind. However, the words you use may not convey the message you want to send—especially if you don't understand the nature of depression and mental illness.

If you are only distantly acquainted with the person you plan to write to, however, a condolence letter may not be the best way to show your concern. A study looking at people who died in the intensive care unit found that sympathy letters written by a physician or nurse in charge did not reduce grief, and actually aggravated depression symptoms.

Living with a Depressed Person. Article by: Kathleen Smith, PhD, LPC; Depression is much more than a bad mood. It’s a disorder that casts a shadow over a person’s thoughts, feelings, perceptions of the world, and their relationships with others. This makes living with someone who has depressed quite the challenging task.

Even in the strongest person (because even the strongest person can get depressed), the stigma can leave a mark. Be the one who pushes against it. Point out when you see a glimpse of their pre-depressed self. The very nature of depression renders it difficult to remember life without depression. The person they were without depression is still there.

How to help someone with depression Feeling down or depressed from time to time is normal. But if these feelings last 2 weeks or more, or start to affect everyday life, this can be a sign of depression.

One of the heaviest weights a depressed person can carry is feeling they have “no right to be depressed” when they have “such a good life.” It can happen to the most unexpected of people. Take the condition seriously and encourage them to get help.

Medical treatment is necessary for most people struggling with depression. Even if someone is in a depressed state, but doesn’t struggle with clinical depression, it is always better to err on the side of caution. Additionally, many voices today condemn those who struggle with clinical mood disorders.

I wrote a suicidal note before too, it did feel therapeutic writing it. I wrote mine as a note on my phone, but I never bothered deleting it, I might though. Well reading here it's interesting to see how most people don't bother getting rid of theirs either I guess that writing something like that takes a lot out of you, so why get rid of it after all that, I guess.

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Janna Marlies Maron. She recently released her first ebook, How to Manage Depression Without Drugs, which is her personal journey of using story, music food and ritual to find her way out of depression.You can find Janna on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog. You might think that writers are naturally inclined to use writing as therapy.