How To Help A Relative With Their Anxieties And Depression

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Do you know a friend or loved one who suffers from fear, anxiety, and depression and do not know what to do to help them?

It can be frustrating to watch someone you know struggle with their mental health and not be able to do anything to relieve their suffering.

With this in mind, here are six ways to help the person cope in these kinds of situations.

1. Learn as much as you can in managing anxiety and depression: There are many books and information that will educate you on how to deal with fear and anxiety. Share this information with the person who is struggling with their mental health issues. The key is to get the person to understand how important it is to seek help when it comes to taking care of their families and personal life.
2. Be understanding and patient with the person struggling with their fears: Maintaining depression and anxiety can be difficult for the person so do not add more problems than what is already there. Do not get into arguments with the person who is having a difficult time with their anxieties. Make an effort to listen to what the other person has to say rather than making judgements about the person.
3. Talk to the person instead of talking at them: It is important not to lecture the person whose having a hard time with anxiety and depression. Talk to the person about their issues without being rude. Most people will listen if you approach them in a proper manner. Remember to treat others the way you would want to be treated if you were the one who was struggling.
4. Ask for some ideas: Seek advice from a professional who can assist your friend or relative with their mental health issues. A counselor can give you some ideas on how to overcome anxiety, fear, and depression. Getting help from a therapist is the number one priority in getting your loved one to do something about their problems.
5. Find out why the person won’t get assistance: Address the issues on why the person will not seek treatment. Many people who are struggling are fearful and frustrated. Try to find out the reasons why he or she won’t get the help they need and then try to find the ways that will overcome their resistance of seeking some guidance.
6. Remind the person on the consequences of not getting help: Another way to convince the person who is struggling with fear and depression is to tell them what may happen if they don’t get some counseling. Anxiety and depression can make things worse and usually won’t go away by themselves.

Remember you can’t manage your mental health all by yourself. A person’s fears and anxieties can be difficult to manage and more than likely he or she will need some help. Many people think that they can overcome their mental health problems on their own. This is a mistake. A person should admit they have a problem and then seek treatment to get their life back on track.

Stan Popovich is a Penn State graduate with over 20 years’ experience in dealing with fear and anxiety. He is an award-winning contributor on the topics of fear, anxiety, and depression. Stan gives you many different ideas and options on how to overcome your mental health struggles. 

This story originally published on Managing Fear’s website.