A depressed parent can weigh you down and can also cause you a lot of heartache. If you seem to have a depressed parent, it is important that you offer him/her great support and courage to go on with life. Here are some fine rules to follow.
Offer support
A depressed parent requires your support and help to get away from the depression. If he/she is feeling very low and does not have anyone to confide in, make it a point to approach your parent and talk to him/her. Offer your parent support and help your parent cope with the situation. It is up to him/her whether he/she wants to confide the problem in you. But by making yourself available and being supportive, you have done your bit to make your parent comfortable and feel loved and wanted. If you are older in age, your parent might also think of confiding in you. Offer him/her your time and do everything to calm your parent and make your parent comfortable. Being physically present during trying times is the best way to help a parent and show your love towards him/her.
Offer love and care
As a loving daughter or son, the best way to give your depressed parent some hope to live is to give the parent enough love and care. The fact that you care and love for your depressed parent will give him/her great solace and offer him/her happiness. This could be all that your parent requires for coming out of his/her depression. Showering love and care can be done in many ways. Spend time with your parent, gift things which your parent loves, be with your parent when he/she needs you, support your parent through trying times, offer to take your parent out or to places where he/she would like to go or do things which he/she would love to do. All these little things put together will make your depressed parent feel good about himself/herself. A loving and caring child can do wonders to lift the spirits of a depressed parent. The desire to live and the empty feeling can be removed from his/her mind when you offer love and care to your parent.
Be a good listener
Sometimes, all your depressed parent would need would be someone who can listen to what he/she wants to say. Being there as a good listener will help your depressed parent come out of the depression by sharing his feelings and fears. This will lift a heavy weight from his/her chest and offer abundant solace. Be ready to spend hours listening to the fears and tribulations of your depressed parent. Do not take this as a trouble as it is your duty to keep your parents happy and free from tensions. Always be willing to set aside time for your depressed parent and give her support. Sit with your depressed parent even if he/she is not ready to talk to you or confide in you. Just the presence will give the depressed person abundant support and will prompt him/her to talk to you about what bothers him/her. Never lose hope when you approach your depressed parent. Be persistent in being with your depressed parent and wait till he/she confides in you.
Counseling
At times, the depression can be so long winded and deep that it would be beyond your power to bring the parent out of the depression. In such cases, psychiatric assistance and counseling is recommended to bring the parent out of his/her depression. At times, anti depressants and other medications too might be required for treating the parent and bringing him/her out of the depressive state of mind. Counseling sessions would require a lot of your time and energy. It is important to be very supportive and understanding at this time so that your depressed parent has the right atmosphere to recuperate.
Do your bit to help them get out of depression
Along with all the support and love and the counseling sessions that your depressed parent might be going through, you must also make sure that you give your parent quality time. Allow your depressed parent a change of atmosphere. Take your parent out or for a holiday and let him/her enjoy with friends and family. This pleasant atmosphere, away from the dreariness of everyday life will give your depressed parent lot of time and space and the right atmosphere to get away from the trials and tribulations of life. With great support from friends and family, your parent will soon come out of this phase and stay happy and well.
