(Karen Pallarito/ Health.com) — When your friend is depressed and retreating from life, how do you draw her out of her shell without nudging her into an uncomfortable situation?
It’s important to recognize that depression is extremely common and, like any illness, deserves your compassion. One in six people will experience depression sometime in his or her life, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Depression can also be terribly isolating, so anything you can do to help your friend stay engaged is a step in the right direction, explains Tracy Cummings, MD, a staff psychiatrist and medical director at the Lindner Center of Hope, an affiliate of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “Even just reaching out and listening could make such a difference,” she says.
Here are a few ways you can help your friend get back in the game of life:
Be present
If your BFF suddenly doesn’t want to go out anymore or seems listless, you know something’s not right. Depression can show up in many different ways: Your friend may appear sad, anxious, or lacking in energy. Things you used to do together no longer interest her. (…)