depressed but doesn't want help?

Question

my friend is a very beautiful, smart, caring, and helpful person. No matter what i tell her she cannot accept any of this. Lately she's been really depressed and not herself. When i confront her she says she'll be fine with time. She doesn't seem to be getting better and it's been 3 months. And when i threaten to tell someone she argues that she's fine. How can i help her and not hurt her at the same time since she only tells me how she feels and i don't want to cut off this communication

Answer 1

You sound as though you are a caring friend, but PLEEEEAASSE ..don't use threats!!!
Your friend is going through enough at the moment and threats
will only frighten her.
I think your friend has a very poor opinion of herself and a bad case of low self esteem.
I feel as though she has been terribly hurt in some way. Perhaps going through some trauma?? (you say three months).
Have you been able to speak to her mom or dad(without her knowing of course).

Try and just continue to be a good friend. Listen to her and chances are she will trust you enough to open up her heart to you. There may be something deeply troubling her but you may have to wait until she is ready to share this with you.
Just be a little more patient.

If, however she begins to get a little worse(talking about taking her life) then you must get help straight away. Don't delay.

Try to encourage her and build her up, by saying"I know you probably don't feel too good at the moment, but I just want to say that I really appreciat you and care for you very much".
I think you are a beautiful person and have a beautiful smile.
You have a lot to give". Even if she dosn't believe or accept these statements continue to tell her.
Encourage her to do things with you, like go to the movies, shopping, etc.
Good on you for caring but please don't make threats : )

Answer 2

Don't do anything but listen and be her friend. She is lucky to have someone to talk to or not if she choses. If you betray her confidence she will have less and more reason to feel bad. Most people go through blue times sometimes. If she still feels down in three more months I would just get more persistent that she consider seeking help.

If you want to mention something like this, I was going through a very tough time with stress and feeling down and I went to the health food store and asked for a recommendation. A woman showed me some things she was taking that made a big difference for her, I tried them and am feeling much better. I have tried allot of other things and nothing has worked but these three things together have really made a big difference in how i feel - Rhodiola force 300 (it's a root), B- complex vitamins,
and fish oil capsules.

Good luck, and she is lucky to have a friend like you.

Answer 3

Hmm...I'm very sorry to hear about this. I'm not sure why she's so depressed, but she sounds like she needs great amount of help.

If she's acting like this in front of you, it's already of a sign of her reaching for help. Probably the best solution is to you to talk to her well about to go see a doctor who specializes these matters. If she can't...all you can do is to be there for her. There are some sites that will help you too, just talk on the phone or email.

http://www.samaritans.org/

It's open 24/7 and they are very nice. It might help you to solve this problem or you could simply tell her to try this out. I hope things will get better for you. Please take care of yourself.

Answer 4

I think the best thing you can do for her is let her work it out on her own. Sometimes the more you try and help the worse it is. She has to come out of it on her own. There is the possibility she is just feeling sorry for herself and wants the attention for what ever reason. Just be her friend and don't talk about her depression My guess is she will snap out of it soon after you do.

Answer 5

The only thing you can do is to "remain present" for her. Let her know that you are there for when she needs you. You can NEVER force another to be well when they're not ready. She has to want to be well. If you keep combatting her with her problems she will only sink deeper. Don't acknowledge that part of her anymore, and she will blossom when she's ready. Just be her friend, be her strength.

Answer 6

depression is something that comes and goes in someone's life, sometimes you just need to be there for them to hang on to and talk to. depression is like a negitive stigma in society so that many do not want others to know and have them feel they have to react differently