5 things you shouldn't say to someone with depression

1. “You’re not the only person with problems”

Most people who have depression are aware they aren’t the only people in the world who are suffering and they don’t need constant reminders or anyone telling them that their problems “aren’t that bad”. Imagine if you fell and broke your leg and then your friend said, “Hey my cousin broke both his legs, you’ll be fine”. You know you’re not the only person suffering but it's not cool.

2. “You just need to pull yourself together and get on with it”

We get it. Sometimes you think your mate just needs a push or a bit of tough love, but that can just make them feel worse. They know that they need to pull themselves together but it can be a hard thing for someone to do, especially if they don’t know how to go about seeking help. It’s like when you were in maths class in high school and you get called up to answer a fraction question on the whiteboard but you don’t know the answer and you just feel all the pressure and anxiety hitting you at once when the teacher is saying "just get on with it already".

3. “It’s all in your head”

Telling someone who has poor mental health that it’s all in their head is one of the worst things you could say. It implies that they are crazy and could even lead to you making them feel self-conscious and afraid to seek help.

4. “Life isn’t fair”

Once again, taking the tough love approach isn’t always the best idea when it comes to dealing with someone with depression, chances are they are already feeling down and telling them life isn’t fair isn’t really going to help get them out of an emotional slump.

5. “Cheer up!”

Trying to force a smile for a picture is hard enough sometimes so imagine your best friend telling you to cheer up and pretend that nothing is bothering you when you feel like the weight of the is world on your shoulders.

There you have it, 5 things you shouldn't say to someone with depression. Hope you found it helpful.

#friends #feelingdown