Family members are affected as well.
It’s also beneficial to knowhow to help loved ones with depressionwhile still looking after ourselves.
This can impact family relationships, leading to friction and misunderstandings.
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
Help is available, both from professionals and via other types of support.
Taking care of yourself is also important when dealing with a loved one with depression.
These symptoms leave the door open for misunderstandings.
Friends might wonder why they’re suddenly being avoided.
A spouse might get angry that their partner isn’t doing their share around the house.
Children might be frustrated that a parent doesnt have the energy to play with them.
Unless a person with depression shareshow they feel, others may be left to infer meaning from their behavior.
This meaning can be misinterpreted as people arent always aware of the many behaviors associated with depression.
Recognizing when a loved one may be dealing with depression is the first step to getting them treatment.
Some feel that they should be able to fix the situation and help the depression symptoms go away.
When they can’t, this can lead tocaregiver stress.
Family members may also worry that they did something to cause the depression.
Some family members experience feelings of fear, anxiety, and powerlessness.
Recognizing these responses is important because how family members react can have an impact ondepression treatmentoutcomes.
This can have an impact on other members of the household.
Irritability might be misinterpreted as being angry with the person it is directed toward.
But this doesnt mean that their symptoms arent leaving a mark on their relationships.
Symptoms of irritability, fatigue, and social withdrawal are just as easy to misinterpret.
This not only damages family relationships but can also lead to further isolation for the individual with depression.
Effective depression treatmentsare available.
They often involve taking medication, engaging in psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.
Watch for signs that other members might need help so intervention can take place early if needed.
It may also be helpful to considerfamily therapy.
Depression can distort a person’s perceptions of how their condition is affecting the family unit.
Learning more about the illness also helps family members respond in ways that are more helpful and empathetic.
The high degree ofstigma attached to mental illnessalso means that some parents may not get the help they need.
The judgments society makes about mental illness can cause parents to not admit that they are struggling.
The pressure to be perfect may also cause them to not acknowledge when they are depressed.
It also takes some of the responsibilities off our to-do lists, enlisting others to help lighten our loads.
National Institute of Mental Health.Major depression.
Gambin M, Sharp C.The relations between empathy, guilt, shame and depression in inpatient adolescents.J Affect Disord.
2016;37(5):293-298. doi:10.3109/01612840.2016.1145309
American Psychiatric Association.Family involvement in treatment can improve outcomes.
Gotlib IH, Colich NL.Children of parents with depression.
2020;10(2):55. doi: 10.3390/bs10020055
Yale Medicine.Parental depression: how it affects a child.
2022;13:781332. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.781332
Harvard Health Publishing.Medication or therapy for depression?
2017;12(6):e0179290.
