Reaching Out When You Are Depressed

Sharon Moore September 03, 2014

It’s easy to tap into a friend for advice or comfort when you are simply tired or feeling blue. But when you have depression, the case is different. Reaching out is probably the hardest and most painful thing to do. It seems like uttering the words of pain to someone is more than you could possibly bear. Depression is more than just feeling blue. It is a chronic mental disorder that leaves you feeling hopeless. It makes you feel like once you have it, there’s no way out.

You may also feel like no one is interested to know your story, or no one really cares about what you are going through. This makes a depressed person choose to isolate him/herself and deal with the illness alone.

And if you are depressed right now, right at this very moment, you could be hearing voices at the back of your mind saying ‘I can’t reach out!’

But reaching out is actually one of the best things you can do today to achieve healing. You may all have the reservations and hesitations, yet you know and feel that deep inside you, there’s a child who really wants to reach out to others and be heard.

You may think like you are the weakest person in the world. But did you know what kind of back to bear that? It takes the back like of Hercules. Yes, you are more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

Realising that you are powerful is one key step to allowing yourself to reach out to others. It doesn’t matter how slow this process for you gets, every progress is worth thanking for.

Here are a few ways to reach out to others in times of depression.

Talk to those around you, especially your trusted friends and family. You need not talk to them in a way that makes you feel like you have depression. You can simply say that things have been a bit tough for you lately and that you are struggling to cope. If they can listen to you without being judgemental, you can tell them how you feel and what you are going through. You will be surprised to know that there are people within your circles who are really supportive, understanding and empathic. These people can be your source of strength and motivation to fight depression.

Call a support line. If you find it difficult to open up to someone you know, you can always reach out to others who deeply understand and can relate to you, without having to know you personally. In these support lines you can talk to either trained counsellors or people who have been through depression and survived. Depression survivors have a lot to share with you. Plus, they are more than willing to listen and help you deal with this debilitating illness.

Join support groups. Even if you don’t personally know each other, being with your fellow travellers – those who are also going through depression and other mental illnesses – gives you the feeling that you are not alone. You may be inspired to help one another. Working together as a group to fight depression can lead to speedy progress.

See a mental health professional. There are many wellness centres providing therapy sessions for depression and other mental health problems. Mental health professionals are well-trained people who have in-depth understanding of what you are going through. They can answer any queries you may have about depression.

You are not alone, no matter how much you think you are. There are many ways to reach out to others and feel connected once more. Whether through a conversation, counselling or a support network, you can build resilience to overcome depression and speed up your recovery.