By My problem is that I know a person, and I’ve been wanting to talk to him for the last two years. So, I found him on Facebook. Isaw his story and I felt that he is depressed. I ended up reaching out to him and the thought of his depression became more and more solidified. He told me that he didn’t want to talk anyone he knew about what he was going through. He lost his mother and is no longer attending classes. I told him to share, but he said he doesn’t want to share his problems with anyone. He has some suicidal thoughts also and he has started smoking. I want to help him keeping myself anonymous and he cannot visit any therapist. How can I help him?
Shahrukh’s Response:
Dear Anon,
Seeing someone you care for struggle in any way can be extremely challenging, and I imagine there must be some feelings of helplessness that are coming in right now. When it comes to being a support to someone who is battling mental health issues, it’s important to stay mindful of what your options are, and recognizing that while you might want the person to get help, the decision lies with them. Let’s delve into this a little further and see what you can do to help them, while also holding space for yourself – being a support to anyone can take its toll, and it’s crucial to take care of yourself as well.
Knowing What Is In Your Power, And What Isn’t.
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Helping someone living with depression can be challenging for so many reasons, and one thing to keep in mind is that it is their journey, and no matter how much we would like to change or take away the pain they’re experiencing, they will need to do it on their own – so don’t try to “fix” anything, just be there to support them as they go through their experience. I hope this article was helpful to you, and that your friend gets the support that he needs. Best of luck, we’re rooting for both of you!
The above article is written by Shahrukh Shahbaz Malik who is trained in humanistic integrative counselling at CPDD in the UK and currently has her own private practice in Karachi. The views expressed in this article are those of one expert. They do not necessarily represent the views of Mashion, nor do they represent the complete picture of the topic at hand. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment or therapy.
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