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Fawn Fitter

Fawn Fitter

Author of Working in the Dark: Keeping Your Job While Dealing...

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Dr. Andrew Jones

Medical director of the Women’s Health Institute of Texas...

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Dr. Jesse H. Wright

Authority on treating depression, professor of psychiatry...

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SunnySide

Question:How do you help a sibling who is chronically depressed?

Tough question, I know! My sibling has been depressed for as long as I can remember...gets therapy for it, but it's hard to know what to do other than "support" from the sidelines? I can't always empathize or understand, so do you just keep supporting, talking, listening?

Asked by SunnySide on 9/22/08 1 Answer»
lilliede81

Answer:

Hi!
You being there, has got to make things easier!
When I went through a bout of depression, just being around positive, upbeat friends made a difference. Hearing them talk and laugh helped. If you can, encourage your sibling to go for a walk with you, get some exercise, breathe some fresh, crisp autumn air -- would that help? It would get the blood flowing, the endorphins whizzing!
Meditation might be a way for the 2 of you to find pathway out of the depression?
Does he/she have food or other allergies?
Is your sibling eating a healthy diet -- sometimes that can make a big difference.
When did your sibling last have a thorough physical examination?
Maybe he/she is deficit in a particular vitamin or mineral which is creating an imbalance in the body.
. . . There are herbs which can help lift the spirits.
What about encouraging him/her to check out this site. Getting Happier caught my eye the first thing. . .

Answered by: lilliede81 on 9/23/08
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