How can you help a friend who suffers from depression?

Question

Is it better to leave my friend alone and give her space in her down times or should I encourage her to come out with us and try to shake it off? If you have scriptures, that's cool. Please give a source or experiences you've had. Thanks.

Answer 1

There is no real way to help a person through depression they must help themselves through it, but you have to support them with love and understanding. Always have patience with them.

Answer 2

In my opinion, any depression is nothing to ignore, this comes from personal experience when my 15 yr old daughter tried to commit suicide. Also, don't EVER tell them to just "shake it off!" You being the supportive friend you are should encourage her to talk to her parents and hopefully they will set up a appointment to a psychiatrist for therapy and medication. Don't leave it up to her to come out of it, sometimes that simply doesn't happen! I don't mean to sound so pessimistic, but if it helps, my daughter is now married and has three beautiful children!!!! Good Luck!

Answer 3

Depending on the severity of the depression, she might need to be strongly encouraged to socialize. It's a vicious cycle, person feels depressed and then no longer wants to socialize which leads to feelings of unwantedness leading the person feeling more depressed.

Keep in mind that she may not be able to "shake it off". Hopefully, she is getting the treatment and/or therapy that she needs.

Answer 4

After suffering from Depression myself, I'd suggest that she seek medical help. It's not such a social stigma these days, and no one really needs to know. Medication can be just the boost to lift her out of it. And it's not something she needs to take forever. My doc said that most people are off of them within 18 months, but I kicked them after 4. And i am just fine without them now, but I don't think I could have done it on friends and going out alone.

Answer 5

It all depends. If she is just feeling "down" she may need time away from social situations. If it continues she should see a Dr. and possibly get some medication to balance her out.

If you are concerned that she is suicidal you definately need to interfere in her life. Take her to a Dr., support group, etc.

Hanging out with friends, talking, excersize, St. Johns Wort, and B vitamins can all help in many situations.

Answer 6

Wickedness, injustice, grief, pessimism, trouble, loneliness, fear, stress, frustration, distrust, unscrupulousness, anxiety, rage, jealousy, resentment, drug addiction, immorality, gambling, prostitution, hunger, poverty, social corruption, theft, war, struggle, violence, oppression, fear of death… News about these issues appear in the newspapers and on TV every day. The popular press devotes entire pages to these subjects, while others serialise articles about their psychological and social aspects. However, our acquaintance with these feelings is not limited solely to the press; in daily life, we, too, frequently come across such problems and, more importantly, personally experience them.
People and societies endeavour to liberate themselves from the distressing experiences, disorder and repressive social structures that have prevailed over the world for long periods. We only need to glance at ancient Greece; the Great Roman Empire; Tsarist Russia, or the so-called Age of Enlightenment, and even the 20th century-a century of misery which saw two world wars and world-wide social disasters. No matter upon which century or location you concentrate your research, the picture will not be appreciably different.
If this is the case, why haven't people succeeded in solving these problems, or at least some efforts been made to remove such social diseases from society?
People have encountered these problems in all ages, yet each time they have failed to find any solutions because the methods they employed were inappropriate. They sought various solutions, tried different political systems, laid down impracticable and totalitarian rules, stirred up revolutions or subscribed to perverted ideologies, while many others preferred to adopt an indifferent attitude and merely accepted the status quo.
In our day, people are almost numbed by this way of living. They readily believe these problems to be "facts of life." They picture a society immune to these problems as being nothing short of impossible-a dream utopia. They persistently and openly express their distaste for such a way of living, yet easily embrace it, since they think they have no other alternative.
The resolution of all these problematic issues is possible only by living by the principles of the "true religion." Only when the values of true religion prevail can a pleasant and tranquil scene replace this gloomy and unfavourable picture, which is doomed to continue so long as God's limits are ignored. To put it another way, people are enslaved by these complications as long as they avoid the values of the Qur'an. Put simply, this is the "nightmare of disbelief" and the link below for this wonderful book:

http://harunyahya.net/popup/Download.php?WorkNumber=256&Format=pdf

you will find how the regulation of life by the "norms of morality" introduced by the Qur'an revealed to mankind by God will banish the "nightmare of disbelief," how pessimism, corruption and social restlessness can be eliminated from society, how the individual can surround himself with an ideal environment, what spiritual and material benefits he is likely to attain by adherence to these norms of morality are gone into in detail, and finally, that the unique alternative to all these problems is the morality of the Qur'an.
So far, many books have attempted to deal with the social and psychological problems societies face. Yet, what distinguishes this book from others is its stress on the most realistic solution. It also sincerely warns people against the troublesome future they are likely to face if they fail to resort to this solution.
We expect that every reader of conscience will grasp that peace, mutual trust and an ideal social life is attainable only by embracing the values of the Qur'an and will turn to the true religion, which is Islam.
They will then happily join the ranks of those who never suffer, mentally or physically, from any of the above-mentioned complications. Around them, there will always be an abundance of favours, comfort, love, respect, peace and confidence, and moral virtues will prevail. They will know how to earn God's approval, by observing His limits and the commandments of the Qur'an. They will thus, by having faith in God, attain His mercy and at last enter Paradise.

Useful link:

(A BRIEF ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING ISLAM)

http://www.islam-guide.com/islam-guide.pdf

My e-mail:
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Answer 7

Barnabas exhaled with such force that his candle was almost extinguished.

He had been so immersed in his thoughts that he noticed only now the island breezes had died down on his native Cyprus; that told him it was later than he had realized. He dropped his stylus and rubbed his eyes, only to feel the scars on his fingers. They reminded him anew of everything Paul and he had endured. I do miss my friend, Barnabas thought, and with that, another cascade of memories plunged him back in time—swaying through the Mediterranean, preaching in Syria, convalescing in Lystra, and, well, that unpleasant day in their home base of Antioch when everything came to a head. How many more times would he hark back and feel his heart sink? After all the good they had done together, how could their words become so contentious?

Barnabas had written this letter in his head, it seemed, a thousand times. He always had worn his heart on his sleeve, but now he had committed it to parchment. He pulled the candle closer, ready for a final read. . .

"Barnabas, your fellow bondservant of Christ Jesus, to my dear brother Paul. Grace to you, and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

"I so long to see you and embrace you, for I am certain that you are as ready to ask forgiveness as I. But I moreso because of the stubbornness I demonstrated by insisting upon taking along John Mark to revisit the churches. While I dearly love my young cousin, I should have been more sensitive to your counsel. I, more than anyone, know the validity of your apostleship. You have spoken with the resurrected Lord Himself, and I should have submitted to your authority. But you know that long ago, the brothers changed my name from Joseph to Barnabas because they nicknamed me 'Son of Encouragement.' I hope you will understand that I was simply trying to show John Mark forgiveness and give him a chance to redeem himself in the work.

"Paul, I ask your forgiveness. I know the Lord personally has commissioned you, and, therefore, you are a man of great purpose and determination. I should have known you would not want to risk another setback after John Mark departed from us in Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem, where he likely more than anyone stirred up the Judaizers. This created great difficulty, as we had to travel from Antioch to conduct the Jerusalem Council. (Acts 15) But God used even this for His glory. The decree we were given to take back to Antioch has opened many doors for the Gospel, and according to reports, great numbers of Jews and Gentiles are worshiping together in the place where we first were labeled 'Christians.'

"My heart aches deeply when our sharp contention comes to mind. I would rather recount all our good:

"I recall the Lord gave me credibility in the Jerusalem church by directing me to sell my land here in Cyprus and donate the proceeds for the brethren. (Acts 4:36-37) This credibility ultimately benefited you—remember? Those in Jerusalem still did not believe the reports of your conversion until I vouched for you and told how boldly and faithfully you had been preaching in Damascus. (Acts 9:26-30) I'm thankful that the Lord used me to help you get started, not only in Jerusalem but also in Antioch.

"Being a Jew and a Levite, I originally was unsure of the reports from Antioch. That so many of the Greek-speaking Jews were believing in one city astounded the Jerusalem church, so the brethren sent me to check on the situation. They humbled me by saying I was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith! When I arrived in Antioch and saw God's great work, I could not help thinking of you and your commission. That is why I soon visited in order to bring you from Tarsus. (Acts 11:19-26) I'm still grateful for how the Lord again used me to expand your ministry. Do you remember all of those prayer meetings during our year there? Our worship? Our service? It would seem that we had one heartbeat!

"When the believers in Antioch sent the famine relief by our hands to the Jerusalem church, it was the start of what I consider the most glorious journey of my life. Each day, I think of our travels and trials. Each day, I miss you more and more.

"I hear that the Lord continues His miraculous work through Silas and you. Greet Silas for me, and may God bless him. Greet all the churches I have visited. I remember you in my prayers night and day. If the Lord wills and you permit me, I plan to join you again, perhaps in Ephesus, and accompany you from there. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ—and my love—be with you all. Amen."

Barnabas smiled and began rolling up the parchment. He sensed he would see Paul again. "Maybe," he whispered, "this will encourage him."