Considering most of the people here are kids, it really wasn't too wise to ask people on this forum for help/advice about something like this.
I've taken classes in college, and the truth is, there isn't much you can do. When people are depressed, they can have various needs; some may want you to help them. some may just want to be alone to die. and some may just be confused. It's not a good idea to keep asking him or trying to find out what will help him as most of the time, depressed people don't want to be asked that. They just want to be alone. The best thing you can do is just be around him, let him know he's not alone without saying too much. As much as they want to be alone, they also don't want to be alone. There's a chance he'll open up to you about what's going on, but if he doesn't, you just have to wait it out.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is usually fairly helpful when mixed with antidepressants, however, it's not effective for everyone (it helps for about 40-60% of people IIRC). As a side note, there seems to be a link between amygdala response to negative words and how effective CBT is.
I may be a kid but I m pretty mature and sensible.
And I m 13 and already listening to Pyschology for almost a year.
Someone near and dear to me has been diagnosed with depression and is currently on medication for it. I understand how useless it can feel knowing someone you care about is in a situation like that but the truth is there isn't anything you can do to alter it. You can be a good friend and try to highlight better moments around them to help lessen their stress on things but you can not cure it for them. Comments like this-please don't listen to anyone telling you what you should 'do' to 'fix' their condition. It does more harm than good and they are well aware of it to themselves.
Hyperbole and a half does an errily good job of explaining depression and why people obviously trying to shake the 'bad mood' out of a person dealing with it, is never a good idea.
No? Anything you do may be counterproductive, if you don't know if he wants to be left alone or if he wants someone to care about him.
mineasap- MLP -mylittlepony
Oh and i wouldn't suggest antidepressants, that's only if the depression HAS NO CAUSE. If it has, 90% of the time it does, then fix the damn problem or get guts to go through, taking pills is only running away.
As Kaval already said, you cant "cure" someone from depression....
I have a feeling you did not read what I posted and simply skimmed over it. No, him as a friend can not cure another man's depression. That is for the professionals to work with him to help him manage and get to a stable condition where his depression is not longer a weighing factor in his life-or to where it is controlled and not in control of himself.
Ok, I agree about the age but I understand this. This is my second year of pyschology and I passed my first year with nothing but A's so I can help.
No, you can not. This is highly immature of you to assume a few classes of middle/high school is up to par with university level degrees and years of experience in the field of psychology and mental illness. People who assume they are 'good enough' where professionals and doctors are require tend to do much more damage, do not be one of those people. The best OP can do is keep being a friend and understand his highs and lows that will come due to depression.
And yea, we cant do anything until the OP tells us why is he depressed.
There doesn't need to be a specific event for someone to developed depression:
"Nobody is sure what causes depression. Experts say depression is caused by a combination of factors, such as the person's genes, their biochemical environment, personal experience and psychological factors."
I have a feeling you did not read what I posted and simply skimmed over it. No, him as a friend can not cure another man's depression. That is for the professionals to work with him to help him manage and get to a stable condition where his depression is not longer a weighing factor in his life-or to where it is controlled and not in control of himself.
You rack logic. Quite a bit of it. I should know because i have first hand experience. A friend can cure your depression, or in the very least help a lot. It really depends.
You think professionals are the only ones who can deal with issues, god you are blind.. It is true that he may not be able to help, but at the same time he may be the only person who can help.
Why would he pay hundreds of dollars for a proffesional when he might just sad and a little cheering up or a sign of love can make him feel better, for all we know he could be just sad.
That is most probably true, even thought i had depression for 5 years and had a really hard time, it took just one friend who understood me, know everything about me and still like me to get rid of my depression. I guess it really depends on a person but most people want a good friend.
You assume a lot, a counselor would be able to help him better than a child taking classes because it is their job and what they have been trained for. Those are inexpensive and depending where-free. Once again you seem you completely ignore my posts.
Also-keep on topic. If you want to discuss further how your maturity is aiding this situation, you can pm the OP yourself. /moderator mode
And to robert who doesn't know the difference from depression and feeling down, you realize depression is a chemical imbalance right? Actual depression can not be 'cured' by a hug and good words passed, its an illness.
And to robert who doesn't know the difference from depression and feeling down,
I take this as a personal insult. I thought i was clear and said most people who think are depressed are actually sad, i know the difference between both, and yeah i pm-ed you.
Why would he pay hundreds of dollars for a proffesional when he might just sad and a little cheering up or a sign of love can make him feel better
Wouldn't that be just wonderful?
Unfortunately though, that's not how the real world works. Else we'd have "cured" depression by now with "a little cheering up or a sign of love."
And for all we know, he could be going through a very difficult time.
I don't think you're taking the right class if all your psych class taught you was "for all we know he could be just tired."
Also, since when did taking a year of high school psych class suddenly make you an expert on the subject? I'm taking an economics course right now. That means I can fix the entire U.S.'s economy problem, right?
I take this as a personal insult. I thought i was clear and said most people who think are depressed are actually sad, i know the difference between both, and yeah i pm-ed you.
I am I speaking about actual clinical depression-as this thread seems to be about depression. Yes, emotional trauma could be what is the matter but this is not what any of my posts have been about, regardless emotional trauma should be seen through with a counselor.
Try to make your friend happy, like remind him/her about all of the good and happy times. Depending on how depressed he/she is, it might take longer before it works. Another thing is, did your friend tell you why he/she is depressed? If you don't know why your friend is depressed, just talk about it, and plus, if you do something before your friend tells you why he/she is depressed, and you try to do something, it could only make matters worse. Hope this helps.
Try to make your friend happy, like remind him/her about all of the good and happy times. Depending on how depressed he/she is, it might take longer before it works. Another thing is, did your friend tell you why he/she is depressed? If you don't know why your friend is depressed, just talk about it, and plus, if you do something before your friend tells you why he/she is depressed, and you try to do something, it could only make matters worse. Hope this helps.
I'd advise that you don't even bring up the subject of depression at all.
I heard that it makes the victim be even more self-conscious of his depression and tries to hide it, making the problem only worse.
Why would he pay hundreds of dollars for a proffesional when he might just sad and a little cheering up or a sign of love can make him feel better, for all we know he could be just tired
Why would he take advice from someone unexperienced and as young as you? You're 13, KID, you have no idea how to give proper, helpful advice on a topic that you possibly have little to no experience with. Most people don't really experience or understand depression until they hit 13 or older. I find it funny that you think he'd be wasting his money to go see a PROFESSIONAL, he's in a right mind to ask a forum that has an age majority of under 18. Kids who think they know enough to help with serious situations/topics. Hilarious, just hilarious. I don't care what you think your "mental age" is. You're still a child, no ifs ands or buts about it.
Are you insulting me? If you read my previous posts you would see that I am very experienced. You are all being really rude because you are scared that someone young as me can be more experienced then you. I dont know why are we all fighting because we dont even know whats going with this guy.
He shouldtalk to his friends and family and if that doesnt help then he should he a proffesional.
Trust me, kiddo, I'm not worried at all about you being more experienced than me. There's not a chance in hell that would actually be the case.
I've volunteered to book him some therapy sessions, but he just refuses them and won't go to them ;_;
Is there anything I can do or should I just leave him be?
There is no universal sadness cure.. And no, he isn't depressed unless a few months passed already and he still feels bad.
I've taken classes in college, and the truth is, there isn't much you can do. When people are depressed, they can have various needs; some may want you to help them. some may just want to be alone to die. and some may just be confused. It's not a good idea to keep asking him or trying to find out what will help him as most of the time, depressed people don't want to be asked that. They just want to be alone. The best thing you can do is just be around him, let him know he's not alone without saying too much. As much as they want to be alone, they also don't want to be alone. There's a chance he'll open up to you about what's going on, but if he doesn't, you just have to wait it out.
http://pcpartpicker.com/user/SteevyT/saved/21PI
Someone near and dear to me has been diagnosed with depression and is currently on medication for it. I understand how useless it can feel knowing someone you care about is in a situation like that but the truth is there isn't anything you can do to alter it. You can be a good friend and try to highlight better moments around them to help lessen their stress on things but you can not cure it for them. Comments like this-please don't listen to anyone telling you what you should 'do' to 'fix' their condition. It does more harm than good and they are well aware of it to themselves.
Hyperbole and a half does an errily good job of explaining depression and why people obviously trying to shake the 'bad mood' out of a person dealing with it, is never a good idea.
Nothing to see here~
Did your friend tell you why is he depressed?
Yes? Work on fixing that problem.
No? Anything you do may be counterproductive, if you don't know if he wants to be left alone or if he wants someone to care about him.
mineasap- MLP -mylittlepony
Oh and i wouldn't suggest antidepressants, that's only if the depression HAS NO CAUSE. If it has, 90% of the time it does, then fix the damn problem or get guts to go through, taking pills is only running away.
I have a feeling you did not read what I posted and simply skimmed over it. No, him as a friend can not cure another man's depression. That is for the professionals to work with him to help him manage and get to a stable condition where his depression is not longer a weighing factor in his life-or to where it is controlled and not in control of himself.
No, you can not. This is highly immature of you to assume a few classes of middle/high school is up to par with university level degrees and years of experience in the field of psychology and mental illness. People who assume they are 'good enough' where professionals and doctors are require tend to do much more damage, do not be one of those people. The best OP can do is keep being a friend and understand his highs and lows that will come due to depression.
There doesn't need to be a specific event for someone to developed depression:
You rack logic. Quite a bit of it. I should know because i have first hand experience. A friend can cure your depression, or in the very least help a lot. It really depends.
You think professionals are the only ones who can deal with issues, god you are blind.. It is true that he may not be able to help, but at the same time he may be the only person who can help.
That is most probably true, even thought i had depression for 5 years and had a really hard time, it took just one friend who understood me, know everything about me and still like me to get rid of my depression. I guess it really depends on a person but most people want a good friend.
Also-keep on topic. If you want to discuss further how your maturity is aiding this situation, you can pm the OP yourself. /moderator mode
And to robert who doesn't know the difference from depression and feeling down, you realize depression is a chemical imbalance right? Actual depression can not be 'cured' by a hug and good words passed, its an illness.
I take this as a personal insult. I thought i was clear and said most people who think are depressed are actually sad, i know the difference between both, and yeah i pm-ed you.
Wouldn't that be just wonderful?
Unfortunately though, that's not how the real world works. Else we'd have "cured" depression by now with "a little cheering up or a sign of love."
And for all we know, he could be going through a very difficult time.
I don't think you're taking the right class if all your psych class taught you was "for all we know he could be just tired."
Also, since when did taking a year of high school psych class suddenly make you an expert on the subject? I'm taking an economics course right now. That means I can fix the entire U.S.'s economy problem, right?
I am I speaking about actual clinical depression-as this thread seems to be about depression. Yes, emotional trauma could be what is the matter but this is not what any of my posts have been about, regardless emotional trauma should be seen through with a counselor.
Expect a PM back.
I'd advise that you don't even bring up the subject of depression at all.
I heard that it makes the victim be even more self-conscious of his depression and tries to hide it, making the problem only worse.
Why would he take advice from someone unexperienced and as young as you? You're 13, KID, you have no idea how to give proper, helpful advice on a topic that you possibly have little to no experience with. Most people don't really experience or understand depression until they hit 13 or older. I find it funny that you think he'd be wasting his money to go see a PROFESSIONAL, he's in a right mind to ask a forum that has an age majority of under 18. Kids who think they know enough to help with serious situations/topics. Hilarious, just hilarious. I don't care what you think your "mental age" is. You're still a child, no ifs ands or buts about it.
[Deleted]
Trust me, kiddo, I'm not worried at all about you being more experienced than me. There's not a chance in hell that would actually be the case.