How To Care For A Loved One With Mental Illness During Lockdown

COVID-19 changed our world drastically.

There is never-ending news, alerts, bans, orders, double notifications, shortages, diplomacy, financial consequences. Most are too heavy to handle and absorb. The mental tension will calm down after the initial uncertainty, worries, anger, and frustration. Many would adapt to the growing environment as we adapted to the twists and turns of life.

It is important to keep in mind some of these symptoms are encountered by everyone from time to time, but may not inherently mean a person is depressed. Likewise, not every person who has depression would show any of those signs.

The real imbalance is of particular concern to those who lack social support. Depression risk factors, experience, and community supports can make it harder for others to adapt. Many with complex transition responses with signs of chronic distress, excessive anxiety, obsessions, isolation, and traumatic stress may suffer long-term consequences.

More so, in struggling days like this, there are many ways on how to cope with depression such as engaging in many entertaining online courses or enrolling in music lessons. Well, we got more for you.

Here, we have provided you a good read that would help you know how to care for a loved one with mental illness during lockdown.

Let’s start off with:

How Might the Pandemic Affect Those Experiencing Depression?

The tension of social isolation, anxiety about work, finances, and wellbeing and the intense feeling of deprivation that most of us are facing at the moment could intensify symptoms of depression if you have been already diagnosed.

Everything can feel incredibly gloomy and helpless when you’re suffering from depression. This will mess with your ability to think rationally, destroy your strength, and makes it terribly hard to keep going through the day challenging.

Signs That Someone May Be Depressed

Feeling down occasionally is a normal part of growing up. However, depression is considered when thoughts and feelings like despair and hopelessness take shape and just don’t go away.

More often than mere sadness in reaction to the difficulties and missteps of life, depression affects the way you think, feel, and function in everyday activities. It can interfere with learning, work, eat, sleep, and better living. It can be unbearable only to try and get through the day.

Tips to Help Someone Who Seems Down:

It is natural to feel down, or discouraged from time to time. But if those emotions last two weeks or more than that, or begin to affect daily life, it can be a symptom of depression.

Depression can unfold slowly. Someone who is miserable does not always realize or recognize that they do not feel or act as they normally do. It is often a friend, family member, or carer who first discovers the need for support. They may be encouraging their family member or friend to see their GP or finding some other support.

Here are the tips you should take note of.

• Learn About Depression on Your Own

How many instances have you seen anyone sound sad because they’re a little frustrated or angry about it? Many may use the term ‘depression’ to describe a lot many different items, or just to make comments. But depression is truly a disease we all need to take at face value. It is natural to feel sad occasionally. While feeling depressed is a warning that you may require extra help.

You should therefore also know yourself that mental illnesses are diseases that affect your mind. Depression has an influence on your attitude and the way you act. It leaves you feeling very close to zero, helpless, or unhappy. Changes of attitude in certain areas of your life will trigger major changes.

• Accept Them as They Are, Without Judging Them

When someone you love is distressed, there are a variety of complicated feelings you may feel, including hopelessness, disappointment, rage, anxiety, remorse, and sorrow. All those sentiments are reasonable. It isn’t easy to deal with depression from a friend or family member. And it may get frustrating if you ignore your own wellbeing.

That being said, if your loved one is to survive, your friendship and help will be essential. You can help them recover with depressive symptoms, surmount bad emotions, and restore their energy, positivity, and life enjoyment.

Begin by learning everything you can regarding depression as well as how to talk to your friend or relative about it. Even when you step out, don’t neglect to look after your own mental health — you’ll want it to get your loved one’s all-out help.

• Talk and Be Open

The mere act of conversing face to face can sometimes be a huge blessing to someone experiencing depression. Motivate the depressed person to speak about their emotions and be ready without judgment to listen.

Don’t expect the end of a single conversation. Depressed people tend to retreat and dissociate themselves from others. You might need to communicate your interest and ability to listen again and again. Be patient and yet strong.

• Listen and Reflect

Even when you speak to others about depression it is hard to know what to do. You could be afraid that the person might get angry, feel offended, or disregard your worries if you start bringing up your concerns. You can be uncertain as to what questions to pose, or how to answer them.

It is important to remember that it is much more essential to be an empathetic listener than to give advice. You needn’t try to “fix” your friend or family member; you just need to be a good listener.

• Offer Practical Support

Your loved one may not realize they ‘re coping with anxiety, or they may be uncertain how to find help. Also though they realize counseling could improve, finding a psychiatrist and scheduling an appointment may be overwhelming.

When your partner seems to be engaging in therapy, try to have them review therapists. You will help your friend remember questions to ask future therapists in their first appointment and the stuff they want to say.

Inspiring them to make that first meeting, and continuing to support them, can be so beneficial if they find it difficult.

• Try to Be Patient

Depression usually develops with treatment, although a lengthy phase that requires some different techniques may be required. Until they discover something that improves their problems, they can need to seek a few specific therapy strategies or drugs.

Yet good treatment doesn’t necessarily mean sadness falls away absolutely. Your friend might keep on having symptoms from time to time. While, they are sure to experience some positive days, and some bad days.

Stop thinking a decent day means they ‘re “healed,” and seek not to get upset if a series of rough days makes it seem as though your friend’s never getting better.

• Get Support for Yourself

If you’re worried about those struggling with stress, it’s easy to drop everything and be at their side and support them. Wanting to help a friend is not wrong but taking care of your own needs is also essential.

Setting limits can help. You could let your friend realize, for example, that you are ready to connect when you get home after work.

When you’re concerned about them thinking they can’t touch you, so try to help them come with a backup plan if they need you throughout your working day. That may mean having a number that they should dial or coming up with a code word that they should send to you while in distress.

You will be promising to come every other day or carry a meal twice a week, rather than wanting to support daily. Engaging other friends might help make a bigger base of connections.

Bottom Line:

When you’re particularly worried about your loved one, you may fear that referencing them could trigger suicidal thoughts. Yet simply speaking about it is good. Ask your loved one if they have contemplated suicide seriously. They might want to speak about it to someone but are confused about how to bring up the tough subject.

Empower them to explore certain feelings with their psychiatrist, whether they have not already done so. Volunteer to help them develop a safety plan that they can use if they think they can act upon those thought processes.