How to Help

I was reading this article the other day
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/17/things-not-to-say-to-some_n_4781182.html
and it was so spot on, that I sent it to someone whom I thought would benefit from understanding a little more about me and why certain things they say just make me feel worse.  

I have been really fighting this bout of depression since October 2013. Five months is a really long time to struggle every single day without fail.  Usually I have a few hard months and then some good ones on we change up my meds, but this time the depression doesn't want to ease up at all.  The anxiety had really made me so irritable that I have to go hide in my room for awhile quite often so that I am not grumpy for little or no reason with my family.  I really dislike that but I don't want to be angry either.  

Today I found this interesting list and thought some people may benefit from it.


Things to say and not to say to someone with depression

What to say: 
You’re not alone in this.
What NOT to say: 
There’s always someone worse off than you are.

What to say: 
You are important to me.
What NOT to say: 
No one ever said that life was fair.

What to say: 
Do you want a hug?
What NOT to say: 
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

What to say: 
You are not going crazy.
What NOT to say:
So you’re depressed. Aren’t you always?

What to say:
We are not on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.
What NOT to say:
Try not to be so depressed.

What to say:
When all this is over, I’ll still be here and so will you.
What NOT to say: 
It’s your own fault.

What to say:
I can’t really understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion.
What NOT to say: 
Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once for several days.

What to say:
I’m not going to leave you or abandon you.
What NOT to say: 
I think your depression is a way of punishing us.

What to say: 
I love you. (Say this only if you mean it.)
What NOT to say:
Haven’t you grown tired of all this “me, me, me” stuff yet?

What to say:
I’m sorry that you’re in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself, so you don’t need to worry that your pain might hurt me.
What NOT to say: 
Have you tried chamomile tea?





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