a friend of mine has is depressed all the time, he doesn't care if he lives or dies...he won't go to any doctors or talk to anyone .... it seems like he's in pain all the time ( mentally)...I try to talk to him and show/tell him all the things he has to be greatful for and that he should be happy but he tells me that being happy its easier said than done........I tell him to think about all the people who love and him ...what can I do to help... how can I help him see all the fun in life... all that life had to offer.. how do I get him to enjoy life and have a will to live.. I want to help him find something to live for....no i don't think he will commit suicide because he is a muslim and he said he would never do that because that is the greatest sin of all... but it just seems like hes just waiting to die... I want to help him want to live...I want him to look forward to everyday.. its so sad .. I want to help him find happiness..I just want to help him.....HELP.. and suggestions?
2007-06-18 02:02:10 · 12 answers · asked by Lady1234 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Depression is often caused by a lack of control. When we feel that things are happening to us rather than because of us, we feel as if what we do no longer matters. Encorage him to seek help. Discovering the underlying factors is the only way to get past the problem.
Also, and it may sound cruel, don't give him too much encouragement. Sometimes people become comfortable in their condidtion because they have friends/family constantly telling them how wonderful they are and talking about all the good things in life, etc. Be supportive, but directive. Encourage him to get help, and point out how valuable he is to you, but don't sugar coat it.
Best of luck to you and your friend.
2007-06-18 02:14:12 · answer #1 · answered by forestevergreen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do have a suggestion. It is sound, it is based on experience, and I don't just give answers to get two points per question. Best of intentions aside, I have only seen two treatments for depression and they are related to one another and that is psychiatry and psychology. If your friend has been depressed for more than two weeks and/or is serious enough to interfere with daily life, then it is time to get help. He says that he knows he should be happy, but that it's "easier said than done," and that is indicative of depression and I have been there. It saddens me regardless of religion (I am Christian) that he will not seek help because help is what he needs. Like I have said before in this forum, if thinking positive were ALL that were needed to alleviate depression, then we would never be depressed.
That said, all you can do is to be supportive and encourage that he gets help from a psychiatrist and a psychologist. You can only be encouraging, though. It is up to him to take the necessary steps to feel better and you can be encouraging along the way. I wish the best of you the both and he can send me a line if he wishes.
2007-06-18 02:19:04 · answer #2 · answered by Raptor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there,
Thank you for your deep concern for friends. He is very fortunate to have sincere friends like you. I am a Muslim, too.
It seems your friend is a God-conscious person. Does he know about depression much? Depression can be caused due to some chemical imbalances in someone's body. In that case, taking anti-depressants would help *immensely*. Do you know why your friend has lost interest about life? The best you could do is to convince him to see a GP (General Practitioner) who should write a referral letter to a psychologist & psychiatrist so that your friend could visit them. How old is your friend? If he is college-aged then he would be able to get *free* counsellings. The hardest part for him would be to actually find the mental strength to visit the GP. You would be doing him a GREAT favour if you could make the doctor's appointment *yourself* for him. You'll have to telephone a clinic, make the appointment and also *accompany* him to the doctor for the very first visit. A GP is entitled to prescribe anti-depressant tablets. Once he gets the referral letter to visit the psychologist and if you accompany him to the psychologist for the first visit too, *then* he would eventually get the motivation to do the rest on his own. It would be very kind of you to do that. I was in your shoes once and I followed the exact method I mentioned here. It helped my depressed friend a GREAT deal. Anti-depressant tablets work wonders after taking them for about three weeks. Sometimes people have chemical imbalances in their body which makes them feel depressed. There might be other deeper issues. It seems your friend needs counseling. As you said he is a Muslim, religious/ spiritual counseling would immensely help him, B-U-T you need to find the right person. Most often, the religious counselors come from a very traditional background who have absolutely no idea of how it's like to be a teen or raised in a Western country. So, finding the right person for counseling is *extremely* important, otherwise it would rather harm your friend. I am not a professional psychologist, but have strong interest and experience in this area. I have a number of practicing Muslim friends who are phychologists. Please feel free to email me via Y!A if necessary.
2007-06-18 03:04:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really have an answer for this one, but I do want to say that I honor you for being by his side and helping him. I have the same problem. I can't help but think everyday that the world would better with out me in it messing everything up on everyone. The only two differences are !, I did try to commit suicide. and 2, My girlfriend that said not even a week before that I was her world won't even talk to me now. I am Trying to get help now that I tried, but with out her I wonder why. Again I honor you. He is lucky to know you!
2007-06-18 03:45:35 · answer #4 · answered by mankind229 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know if there may be some reasons why he is depressed? Stress, maybe? If you can identify the source of the depression, you may be able to help him find a solution.
If he is depressed all the time, he also may be having a clinical condition. A clinical depression is caused by chemical imbalance. This means that he ought to see a doctor or a pychiatrist and get appropriate medical help.
Read this article to find out more
http://www.healthandwellnesscentral.com/Article/Clinical-Depression---A-Chemical-Imbalance/16200
2007-06-18 02:08:03 · answer #5 · answered by mindalchemy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Volunteer to read at a childrens hospital. Or at the local VA hospital. Or the local pound help to clean cages and feed the animals.You can do this together. He maybe has to reach rock bottom before he climbs back up.
2007-06-18 02:13:14 · answer #6 · answered by ditdit 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He really needs to go to a medical doctor. Try to convince him to go to a doctor.
I have chronic depression and medication helps me. When I had people tell me "what I had to live for" and "think positive" it didn't do me any good.
He might "snap out of it" on his own, but his chances are a lot better if he goes to a medical doctor and gets medication.
2007-06-18 02:18:22 · answer #7 · answered by majnun99 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take him to the park for a picnic make him watch little kids giggling and laughing. If the problem isn't solved go to a doctor this is serious a child's laughter cures all sadness
2007-06-18 02:08:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is really nothing you can do, except to support him all the time. People who are in a depressive state needs to come out of it in their own time. The worse you could do is to told them that they should "snap out" of it. Good luck!!!
2007-06-18 02:14:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
See depression treatments at http://www.ezy-build.net. (.net.nz/~shaneris) on page 2, and note/print relevant parts and give to him, or refer him direct. Find out who is his religious instructor, and have a discussion with that person.
2007-06-18 02:45:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋