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Living With Someone Else's Depression

by Joseph Antony Solomou(more info)

listed in depression, originally published in issue 182 - May 2011

No matter which angle you look at it from, depression is devastating. The sense of utter hopelessness and despair, and the feeling of being totally lost which are felt from the inside, are indescribable, but the challenges for those on the outside can be almost unbearable too. Watching someone whom you love and care about, and whom you thought you knew, disappear before your very eyes is one of the saddest, frustrating and sometimes infuriating experiences imaginable.

Someone else's depression

There are many ways in which living with someone else's depression can affect a person. For one thing, the despair and the negative attitudes can have a nasty way of rubbing off; it can become easy for spouses, partners, family members and even colleagues to start being dragged down themselves. Either that or partners and relatives can become intensely angered by the other's behaviour, believing them capable of 'pulling themselves together', which they simply cannot do. After all, nobody chooses to be depressed and if they could just 'snap out of it', they would undoubtedly do just that.

Attempts to chivvy a depressed person along can often take the form of suggesting that they go out and treat themselves to something nice or have a night out with the 'boys' or 'girls' to cheer themselves up. Even though suggestions such as these are normally meant with the best of intentions, for someone in a depressed state they can often come across as intensely insensitive and lacking in understanding. The person on the outside is simply left feeling that they can do or say nothing right.

Another thing which it is common for those close to people suffering from depression to feel is guilt. Because in most cases the depressed individual has changed and moved gradually into a state of hopelessness, their loved ones feel responsible and as if they themselves must be the cause, when in fact the feelings come from the inside and are usually the result of distorted ways of thinking. This can either provoke partners and families into co-dependent behaviour, whereby they cover up for the depressed individual, make excuses for their behaviour or 'tread on eggshells' in their company, or it can cause them to discourage their loved one to seek professional help because of the belief that they will be convinced to end the relationship - neither of which helps to solve the problem.

Depression is a complex condition which commonly arises as a result of deeply-rooted thoughts, feelings, attitudes or events. As such, it is not something for which there is a home remedy. Although a bout of depression may appear to pass on its own, often it will return at a later date if the underlying causes are not treated and the tools to deal with negative emotions are not learned. If you have a friend, loved one or colleague who is suffering with depression, therefore, the kindest thing that you can do is to accept your own limitations and encourage them to seek professional help.

The range of therapies, including Counselling, Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Hypnotherapy, used by professional counsellors and therapists is both safe and effective and has enormous potential to restore long-lasting health and happiness.

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About Joseph Antony Solomou

Dr Joseph Antony Solomou CPsychol AFBPsS  brings extensive expertise in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Hypnotherapy to his role as Clinical Director of The Psychotherapy Clinic. Joseph holds a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, a post-MA Diploma and MA in Counselling Psychology, as well as four further degrees, two of which are at Masters level in the fields of Psychology of Education and Counselling Psychology. He is also an experienced lecturer in the subject of psychology.

As well as being a member of the British Psychological Society and Associate Fellow (FBPsS), Joseph is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist registered with the UK’s health regulator, is on the Health Professions Council, and is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society. Highly active in the research of emotional intelligence and therapy, he practises an integrative approach to treatment, which includes Cognitive Analytic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies in order to facilitate lasting, positive change  to help individuals, couples and families deal with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

In the past fifteen years, Joseph has been involved in clinical work, teaching and academic practice within private, public, and educational healthcare contexts. Not only has he worked at GP medical centres and overseas therapy clinics, but he has also worked at Guy’s Hospital and with leading mental health charity Mind. Please contact Joseph via thepsychotherapy@googlemail.com   info@thepsychotherapy.co.uk   www.thepsychotherapy.co.uk

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