How to Explain Depression so that Others Can Understand

The explanation of depression is not easy. Such a situation could rob you of the desire to be connected with others and make you unable to find the words to describe emptiness inside.

David Rosmarin, founder of the Center for Anxiety and associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, has worked with individuals and families affected by depression and other mental - health conditions. His advice is that ultimately you should not be the person who explains depression to other people.

You're an expert on your feelings. Nobody, not even the therapist, knows more about your experience with depression than you do. But if the work of explaining the symptoms and answering questions seems like a burden, you can seek help.

The depressed person is not usually the best person to explain him”, says Dr. Rosemary. “It's hard enough to explain depression. ”

Health professionals are trained and experienced in educating family members. In fact, there is good evidence that when family members are educated in depression as part of treatment, there is less mystery about the disease, less guilt, and more understanding and support.

The emotional depth of depression may be difficult to convey to people who have not experienced it.

Try to explain without anger, not to stand trial or aggressive”, Rosmar advises. If your feelings are too delicate to share, use other materials. Statistics and infographics can also be useful. You can also address online videos on which people explain what it's like to experience depression. If you find something that is true of you, you can share it with other people.

Rosmarin suggests this strategy:

1. Describe Describe the situation, actually, without emotion or judgment.
2. Explain: Use self-focused statements “I feel” to express feelings about the situation.
3. Sihon: Look for what you want or need in a simple, direct way.
4. Backup: Strengthen the importance of the relationship, reminding the other person how valuable they are to you.
5. Be conscious: Try to stay in the present, not to mention the past or not to worry about the future.
6. Prove yourselves secure: Use your attitude, tone of voice, and facial expressions to communicate your self - respect (even if you feel anxious).
7. Negotiation: If what you need is not possible, work with the other person to find an alternative that may work.

Consider your age and maturity if you are explaining to your children. The important message to convey is that your difficulties are not your child's fault. It may not be necessary to explain depression to young children, Rosmar says. They may not be aware of the changes in your feelings or behavior. Older children and teenagers, on the other hand, may have questions.

“If not going well at first, do not give up trying to explain,” says Rosmar. When you talk about depression and discussion doesn't go as well as you hoped, it can create a distance between you and the people you care about. When people feel misunderstood, it can make the symptoms of depression worse. ”

Discussions like these can take time and awareness may gradually increase. If you can be patient with yourself and others, communication can be better on the long - term agenda.