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	<title>Finding Optimism &#187; caring for someone with depression</title>
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	<description>A Positive Approach to Mental Health</description>
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		<title>Caring for Someone with Depression</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/caring-for-someone-with-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/caring-for-someone-with-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:04:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beat depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loving someone with depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/?p=162</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How can you care for someone with depression? This article has some very good ideas from someone in the caring role.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have revised and expanded this post for a magazine article that I wrote recently. If you haven&#8217;t read it before I hope that it&#8217;s helpful to you.</p>
<p>The person with depression usually can’t see a way forward. They may fervently believe that nobody can help them, and life is pointless. That doesn’t mean that they’re right, and there are plenty of things that you can do to help.</p>
<p>The type and amount of care that you can give will depend on your relationship with the person, but here are some ideas.</p>
<p><strong>1. Understand the illness.</strong></p>
<p>Learn all that you can about depression. The better you grasp the illness, the more effective you will be in giving your care and understanding. It will help you to understand why the person behaves the way they do, and better equip you to respond appropriately.</p>
<p><strong>2. Seek Appropriate Treatment</strong></p>
<p>This is such a far-reaching, wide-ranging topic that I would be foolish to give advice. Suffice to say that it will be helpful for you to explore the treatment options available in your area and suggest to the person that they need professional help. It might be helpful for them if you go along to the first or subsequent appointments. Often a person actually feels relieved to hear a diagnosis and know that they are sick and that they can be helped. This was really true for me.</p>
<p>If he or she won’t admit they need help then explain why you are concerned and perhaps provide them with some helpful written information to chew over.</p>
<p><strong>3. Provide Emotional Support</strong></p>
<p>Your partner or friend needs patience, care and understanding. They have a real illness, and just like someone with cancer they can’t just “snap out of it”. If they could, they would. Saying things that show ignorance about the illness is counterproductive and will reinforce their negative thinking.</p>
<p>The best way to communicate is to empathise, listen more than talk, and ask questions like “How can I support you?” or “How can I help?”</p>
<p><strong>4. Keep the Illness Separate</strong></p>
<p>The illness and the person suffering the illness are not the same thing, so keep them separate. When they express pessimism, anger, frustration, or sadness, it is the illness talking not the person. If you separate the two you will find it easier to cope emotionally. It will help you to be a more effective caregiver.</p>
<p><strong>5. Listen Non-Judgmentally</strong></p>
<p>Don’t try to talk a depressed person out of their feelings, no matter how irrational they sound. This is likely to compound the problem. It is better to remain neutral and say something like “You are obviously really suffering with this. What can I do to help you feel better?” Keep your suggestions, solutions and advice for another time. My wife has also found that posing suggestions as a question helps me to have some ownership of the solutions. It stops me feeling nagged too!</p>
<p><strong>6. Make a Plan</strong></p>
<p>Help the person to make a plan for coping with depression. Identify things that trigger or worsen the depression and things that make it better. Think through and list the ideas formally on paper. Help them to put this plan into action. Some positive, helpful things to include are getting to bed early, having adequate sleep, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water and eating healthy foods. The plan will be an evolving document as things change, so be prepared to re-visit it on  a regular basis. I often need my wife to remind me what works for my health as sometimes I go off track. This is a key role that the caregiver can play.</p>
<p><strong>7. Look after yourself</strong></p>
<p>As a caregiver you are likely to be under stress. You need to care for yourself by taking time out and recharging your batteries. Find other friends or relatives who you can talk to and rely on at a pinch. Sometimes you will need a sounding-board to keep things in perspective. Make sure you continue to live your own life as well, and spend time doing things you enjoy. My wife loves her part-time job for many reasons, but high on the list is escape. Although she is working, it&#8217;s a great mental break for her when home life is dominated by my illness. </p>
<p>There are services that provide education and support for caregivers. Through information sessions and support groups, you can talk to people who are in a similar position.</p>
<p><strong>8. Organize their medicines</strong></p>
<p>If your partner or friend is taking medicine for depression then it is crucial for them to follow their prescription. Too many people go on and off their anti-depressants depending on how they feel. This all but eliminates their effectiveness.</p>
<p>I take medicine at night without any problems, but if it wasn’t for my wife handing the pills to me I would never take them in the mornings. She also fills my scripts and tells me when to go to the doctor for more. It’s not laziness; it’s just the nature of depression. More than once I have spent hours in bed staring at my pills, but not had the mental energy to actually take them. If your partner or friend is not complying with their prescription, try to find out how you can help.</p>
<p><strong>9. Support network.</strong></p>
<p>Introduce the idea of joining a support network for depression. This will give them an outlet for discussing their problems and receiving input, and help them to discover that there are other (normal) people experiencing similar problems. There are depression support groups everywhere. Make sure that you find one that is positive and focused on recovery. Inward looking, pessimistic groups can be unhelpful.</p>
<p><strong>10. Get out and About</strong></p>
<p>One of the most therapeutic things that a depressed person can do is step out the front door. <a title="Seasonal Affective Disorder" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/lifestyle/seasonal_affective_disorder/">Natural light</a> is very beneficial, especially early in the day. <a title="Exercise and Mental Health" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/exercise/exercise-and-mental-health/">Exercise</a> also has proven benefits. Something as simple as <a title="Green Therapy" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/exercise/ecotherapy-and-depression/">taking a walk or gardening</a> should lift the person’s mood. Anything low-key that involves going out can also help; seeing a movie, meeting friends, or going out to eat, just to name a few ideas. The most effective way for me to get up and out the door is to take the kids to school. There is a set time to go, which gives me routine, and the kids are great company.</p>
<p><strong>11. Help with daily tasks</strong></p>
<p>When your body is heavy and your mind is dark, there is nothing harder than the burdens of everyday life. Something that seems minor to you may be an insurmountable task to your friend or partner. Ease their burden by helping with the daily load &#8211; running errands, doing the shopping, cooking, taking the kids out for a couple of hours. You may be surprised to find that helping with a very simple chore could relieve them of a lot of stress. </p>
<p>We had an old mattress that needed to go to the tip. My wife asked me to take it there for months, and over time it became a source of tension. But my thinking wasn&#8217;t rational and the thought of going to the tip overwhelmed me. When she understood what was really going on she asked a friend to take it. That was a huge relief to both of us. </p>
<p><strong>12. Spend normal time together</strong></p>
<p>Just spending time with the person lets them know that you care and want to understand their problems. Enjoy the reasons for being their companion in the first place. It’s important that they live as normal a life as possible. Help them to do this by carrying on your relationship with them in a normal fashion. Don’t let everything get dark and serious. Find some positive things and try to enjoy them together.</p>
<p>The points above are general by necessity. They don’t fit all circumstances, but I hope that you find at least a few helpful ideas.</p>
<p> </p>
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		<title>Caring for Someone who is Mentally Ill</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/caring-for-someone-who-is-mentally-ill/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/caring-for-someone-who-is-mentally-ill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:01:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beating depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dealing with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcoming depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-help]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[someone with depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/caring-for-someone-who-is-mentally-ill/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two of my most popular posts have been 12 Ways to Care for a Depressed Person and Things to Say to Someone with Depression. Why have they been popular?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Two of my most popular posts have been <a title="12 Ways to Care" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/lifestyle/12-ways-to-care-for-a-depressed-person/">12 Ways to Care for a Depressed Person</a> and <a title="Building up the Depressed Person" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/healthy-mind/ways-to-build-up-someone-with-depression/">Things to Say to Someone with Depression</a>. Why have they been popular? Judging from comments I&#8217;ve received, they struck a chord for the practical help in dealing with a depressed person. A view from the other side, so to speak.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve just read a very helpful article at Psych Central that is in the same vein. <em>Helping Someone with a Mental Health Concern</em> is written by psychiatrist John M. Grohol. Of particular interest to me are his insights on effective listening and empathizing with a mentally ill person. It is invaluable advice for someone in a caring role.</p>
<p>To read the article <a title="Psych Central article" href="http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/helping-someone-with-a-mental-health-concern/">click here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Postscript on Carergivers &#8211; Awful Research Results</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/carers-research-results/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/carers-research-results/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:58:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caregiver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental illness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/carers-research-results/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a caregiver you need to be resilient to mental illness. You will be far more effective in giving care if you remain healthy yourself.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently found an article in our local Sydney Morning Herald that made for some sad reading.</p>
<p>Professor Cummins from Deakin University has been researching the well-being of different societal groups for the last 6 years. The studies measure the degree to which different people are satisfied with their lives.</p>
<p>In the most recent study (October 2007) 3,750 caregivers were asked questions about health, relationships, safety and community involvement. A caregiver was defined as someone who looks after a frail, disabled or mentally ill relative.</p>
<p>According to the study caregivers have the lowest level of well-being of any group in the community. Further, the rate of moderately depressed caregivers was found to be 56% (general population is 6%), while almost 40% exhibited severe or extremely severe depression. As you can imagine the typical caregiver suffers a high level of dissatisfaction with life. And this is even in the presence of mitigating factors like a high income or being in a relationship.</p>
<p>This is tragic stuff. It really highlights to me the importance of looking after yourself as a caregiver. Have boundaries, have breaks without feeling guilty, maintain some part of your life that is separate from the person you&#8217;re caring for, build a support network (formal or informal), or join a support network, and find somewhere to fit in a bit of fun.</p>
<p>As a caregiver you need to stop yourself falling in a heap. You need to be resilient to mental illness, and you are far more effective in giving care to another if you remain healthy yourself.</p>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>Loving the Person You Care For</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:57:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holistic treatment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Julie Fast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loving someone with bipolar disorder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mood disorder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A brilliant book. It would greatly help any caregiver living with a depressed partner.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>This is the 5th and last post in a series by Anna on &#8220;Being a Caregiver&#8221;. Earlier posts are <a title="Depression Dialog post" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/the-depression-dialogue/">The Depression Dialog</a> , <a title="Know the Enemy post" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/know-the-enemy/">Know the Enemy</a> , <a title="Trigger Unhappy post" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/trigger-unhappy/">Trigger Unhappy</a> and <a title="Keeping Your Mind Together post" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/keeping-your-mind-together/">Keeping Your Mind Together</a>. </em></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve written a lot about being a caregiver in my last 4 posts, but in this one I&#8217;d like to share with you the book that really saved my own sanity. It is &#8220;Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder&#8221; by Julie A. Fast and John D. Preston.</p>
<p>In the first few months after James&#8217; diagnosis I read a lot of material to educate myself. The problem was that most of it was factual information on depression and bipolar, but it didn&#8217;t tell me how to manage practical things like James&#8217; irritability. The info simply described the symptom without ideas for its management.</p>
<p>From pages 1 to 2:  &#8220;This book can provide you with the tools you need to be a resource and support for your partner instead of a crisis manager and constant caretaker.&#8221; This is exactly what I needed!</p>
<p>The book was written specifically for caregivers. Julie Fast has bipolar disorder, as does her partner of 10 years, and the result is a book with real insight.</p>
<p>At its heart is the idea of creating a holistic treatment plan.</p>
<p>The first aim is to develop a symptom list that you can use to identify when your partner&#8217;s behavior starts to change. Once that has been worked out the second aim is to create a &#8220;what works list&#8221; to treat those symptoms before they progress to a full blown episode. The third step is to work out what triggers the symptoms in the first place. These are often outside events, situations or behaviors that once modified or eliminated really make your partner far more stable. Once you understand the triggers well, then the goal is to stop the mood swing from starting in the first place. If it does start then the &#8220;what works list&#8221; comes into play.</p>
<p>Of course this strategy requires recording your partner&#8217;s behavior over time e.g. by keeping a journal.</p>
<p>The rest of the book focuses on the needs of the caregiver. (Obviously your partner achieving greater stability is already a significant help).</p>
<p>The chapter on &#8220;Your Emotional Response&#8221; starts you on the road of looking after your own needs. It discusses issues like anger, grief, guilt and feeling trapped. For me, it was almost a springboard for seeing a counselor.</p>
<p>The chapters on work, money and sex cover practical issues that cause distress.  They were all helpful chapters, but for me the chapter &#8220;The Hard Truths&#8221; had more impact. This chapter really lays it on the line and forces you to face the reality of your relationship. Are you prepared to stay with your partner if things don&#8217;t change? Tough reading.</p>
<p>My favorite chapter is &#8220;The Bipolar Conversation&#8221;, which teaches you how to avoid pointless fights when you partner is baiting you. The book ends with &#8220;Laughter and Joy&#8221;, an inspiration to leading a normal life again. From this I learned to structure in happy times in our lives.</p>
<p>A brilliant book. It may be about bipolar, but the application is much wider and relevant to all mood disorders. It would greatly help any caregiver living with a depressed partner.</p>
<p>Here is the link to the book on <a title="Link to Julie Fast on Amazon" href="http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Bipolar-Disorder-Julie/dp/1572243422/ref=sr_1_7/104-9388951-0657537?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1192974598&amp;sr=8-7">Amazon</a> (not an affiliate link).</p>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<title>505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/reviews/encourage-a-chronically-ill-friend/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/reviews/encourage-a-chronically-ill-friend/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:12:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[help for depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental illnesses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[someone with depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/reviews/505-ways-to-encourage-a-chronically-ill-friend/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Practical ideas for helping an ill person - not platitudes like "If there is anything I can do..." but ways to be proactive  ideas for providing support.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I recently found a wonderful book called &#8220;505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend&#8221; by Lisa J. Copen. Since we are two-thirds of the way through Anna&#8217;s series on &#8220;<a title="First Post - The Depression Dialog" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/the-depression-dialogue/">Being the Caregiver</a>&#8221; a quick overview of the book fits in well.</p>
<p>The best thing about the book is the practical ideas for helping an ill person. They are not platitudes like &#8220;If there is anything I can do&#8230;&#8221; but ways to be proactive with providing your support.</p>
<p>The book is focused on the chronically ill, and applies to the whole range of mental illnesses, but it would also be relevant to helping friends in any kind of need.</p>
<p>With the author&#8217;s permission I&#8217;m listing my favorite twenty.</p>
<p><strong>3.</strong> Put meals into disposable containers and attach a note saying &#8220;This doesn&#8217;t need to be returned.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>5.</strong> Arrange for your friend&#8217;s kids to have a night with your children.</p>
<p><strong>15.</strong> Treat her to a gift of movie rentals via postal mail through a service ($7-15 a month).</p>
<p><strong>18.</strong> Mop the floors.</p>
<p><strong>21.</strong> Ask, &#8220;Do you have an errand I can run for you before coming over?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>42.</strong> Don&#8217;t say, &#8220;Let me know if there is anything I can do.&#8221; People rarely feel comfortable saying, &#8220;Yes, my laundry&#8221;. Instead pick something you are willing to do and then ask her permission.</p>
<p><strong>44.</strong> Buy a magazine subscription for her on her favorite topic.</p>
<p><strong>59.</strong> Say, &#8220;I&#8217;d like to bring you dinner next week. Would Monday or Tuesday night be better?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>81.</strong> Ask her if she wants to house-sit when you are on vacation. New surroundings may feel like a mini-vacation.</p>
<p><strong>116.</strong> Take her kids for a movie and ice cream.</p>
<p><strong>152.</strong> Watch your friend&#8217;s children so she and her spouse can have a night out.</p>
<p><strong>180.</strong> Ask her if she&#8217;d like you to help rearrange her furniture for a fresh feeling in her house.</p>
<p><strong>197.</strong> If a massage would feel good (it doesn&#8217;t always), give her a gift certificate for one.</p>
<p><strong>199.</strong> Help her with her children&#8217;s birthday parties &#8211; but don&#8217;t take over; let her make all the decisions.</p>
<p><strong>304.</strong> Clip cartoons that will make her smile.</p>
<p><strong>316.</strong> When you leave ask, &#8220;Do you have mail I could drop off for you?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>406.</strong> Talk about normal everyday things, not just the illness.</p>
<p><strong>424.</strong> Help her children pick out gifts for her on special occasions like Mother&#8217;s Day.</p>
<p><strong>462.</strong> Go with her to the doctor and then go get coffee or lunch afterward. Medical visits get lonely and depressing.</p>
<p><strong>468.</strong> Teach her how to use the Internet so she can learn more about her illness from medical websites.</p>
<p>The <a title="Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend book" href="http://www.restministries.org/comfortzone/item3.htm">book is available</a> by direct purchase from the <a title="Rest Ministries" href="http://www.restministries.org/">Rest Ministries website</a>.</p>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Keeping Your Mind Together</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/keeping-your-mind-together/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/keeping-your-mind-together/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Sep 2007 07:07:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[help for depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/keeping-your-mind-together/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is so important to develop supportive relationships, for friendship, for emotional support and for practical things like moving mattresses.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-style: italic">This is the 4th post by Anna on being a caregiver. Earlier posts are <a title="The Depression Dialog" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/the-depression-dialogue/">The Depression Dialog</a>, <a title="Know the Enemy" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/know-the-enemy/">Know the Enemy</a> and <a title="Trigger Unhappy post" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/trigger-unhappy/">Trigger Unhappy</a>.<br />
</span><br />
I&#8217;ve been asking James to take our old mattress to the waste dump for about 4 months. Today, I decided enough was enough. I asked an understanding friend (whose husband also has depression) to help me transport it. She has a car with roof racks. It took a while but we got it onto the roof, and tied it down with baling twine. It was not exactly satisfactory, but James had taken the rope to work and left it there.</p>
<p>So we drove that way and the mattress stayed on for about a mile before sliding. We checked it, and checked it again, and continued like this until we were nearly there, when a truck passed us with speed and the mattress flew off altogether. (Queen size by the way.) The twine was still intact, but the mattress handles were shredded. So we eventually limped in to the dump, mattress carefully balanced on top and hazard lights on. It was a funny experience and we had a lot of laughs.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve written about this because it says a couple of things about how I handle my role as a caregiver.</p>
<p><strong>Know the limits of what your partner or friend can do</strong><br />
Removing a mattress was overwhelming for James. He put it off, and ignored it, and put it off some more. The reason was that the task &#8211; mental as much as physical &#8211; was insurmountable to him. It&#8217;s quite different from laziness, as anyone with depression will know. But the mattress was stopping me from getting to my wardrobe and it had to go. My frustration was building up, despite knowing what was going on in James&#8217; mind. I decided to just do it myself rather than let it become a big issue. That&#8217;s not to say I&#8217;m being a doormat. When I stop and think about it I recognize what&#8217;s happening under the surface and take a practical approach.</p>
<p><strong>My support network is crucial</strong><br />
I have a small network of friends who will help me in this sort of situation. Through bitter experience, I know that some people are understanding about mental illness and others are not. My close friends are. I also know not to wear them out, so I share my problems around. They give the emotional support I need when I&#8217;m not getting it at home. They let me vent, they help me in practical ways, and they still share good times with me. They also think highly of James even though they know how awful he can be. That&#8217;s very important to me. I&#8217;m very fortunate as a caregiver to have supportive people around me. I know that many people are struggling along without much help. I can&#8217;t emphasize enough how important it is to develop those supportive relationships, for friendship, for emotional support and for practical help for things like moving mattresses.</p>
<p><strong>My mental health is crucial</strong><br />
I have to be proactive about having time out, having a break from the intense times, and even some fun. I used to feel guilty about this, but it&#8217;s actually wise to keep looking after your own health. My family are good with giving me practical help, like taking the kids, when I need to do something on my own.</p>
<p><strong>Learn to forgive and grieve</strong><br />
It&#8217;s easy to feel sorry for myself, but I&#8217;ve learned to forgive and move on. James forgives me for a lot of things too; it&#8217;s not a one way street. I&#8217;ve had to mourn the life that I thought James and I were going to enjoy together. He is not at all like he was when we married. But I always remind myself that I should be thankful for what we have, and what I have, and not dwell on what we don&#8217;t have, and to pray on all occasions.</p>
<p><em><a title="Loving the Person post" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/loving-the-person-you-care-for/">Click here</a> for the fifth and final post in this series, Loving the Person You Care For.</em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Know the Enemy</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/know-the-enemy/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/know-the-enemy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:14:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black dog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dealing with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gordon Parker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Julie Fast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loving someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mood disorder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mood disorders]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/know-the-enemy/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When it dawned on me that the illness is the enemy, not the person with the illness, I started to have more control over my anger and resentment.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-style: italic">This is the second post by Anna on being a caregiver. <a title="The Depression Dialogue" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/staying-well/the-depression-dialogue/">Click here</a> for the first post, The Depression Dialog.<br />
</span></p>
<p>Know the enemy. Sounds awful, doesn&#8217;t it? But I&#8217;m talking about the illness, not the person who is sick. When that dawned on me, that the illness is the enemy, I started to have more control over my anger and resentment. Why? Because I had something I could fight, and yet still love my husband James. I&#8217;m not saying that he isn&#8217;t responsible for his behavior; but I could now explain it, or most of it, by his illness.</p>
<p>Our third child was born in 2003 just as things were at their worst. James had left another job, he had a go at crashing his car, and our other kids were showing signs of distress. I had to think about leaving him for a while to protect myself and the kids emotionally. I felt alone, scared for our future and worried sick.</p>
<p>It was at about that time that he was diagnosed with bipolar, which prompted me to thoroughly research depression and bipolar. There is an awful lot of junk out there, so I sifted through until I found some great sources. Then I learned as much as I could. The best thing about this learning process was a much better understanding of the illness, so I was less frightened and more assertive in handling his behavior.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold">The resources that I relied on most are:</span></p>
<p><a title="Julie Fast" href="http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Bipolar-Disorder-Julie/dp/1572243422/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9388951-0657537?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1190289988&amp;sr=8-1">Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder by Julie Fast</a><br />
This book helped me more than any other. It is written for caregivers and has great, practical solutions, especially in the area of talking to each other. James was on board with the idea of trying the suggestions in the book so that helped. Most of the content is readily applicable to depression.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a love it or hate it book. I love it. I&#8217;ll write a review as the last post in this series.</p>
<p><a title="Gordon Parker" href="http://www.amazon.com/Dealing-Depression-Commonsense-Guide-Disorders/dp/1741142148/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9388951-0657537?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1190290148&amp;sr=1-1">Dealing with Depression by Gordon Parker</a><br />
I continue to rely on this book for my medical understanding of mood disorders. James reviewed the book in an <a title="Review of Dealing with Depression" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/reviews/dealing-with-depression-by-gordon-parker-review/">earlier post</a>.</p>
<p><a title="Black Dog Institute" href="http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/">Black Dog Institute</a><br />
I use this website for finding all kinds of reliable information on mood disorders. The Black Dog Institute is headed by Gordon Parker (above).</p>
<p>The next break through was keeping a diary of James&#8217; moods and things that happened each day. I did this every night for almost 2 years. It sounds a bit keen I know, but it was also therapeutic. After only 3 months or so, I was able to see patterns of behavior emerging. His illness was looking somewhat predictable! The progress over those 2 years was very slow, but just having some noticeable improvements gave me hope. I could stop living from day to day, wondering what would hit next. Also, and even better, I was able to see what was triggering his mood swings. Things like certain foods, certain people, and certain social situations.</p>
<p>Armed with this knowledge we started changing our lives to avoid triggers. This is an ongoing process, but James continues to get better. We completely removed some problem triggers so they no longer have an impact, and he also copes better with the triggers that remain. I hope that we don&#8217;t sound perfect. The process is ongoing, and there are still many times when bipolar ruins things. But now that I know my enemy I can &#8220;attack&#8221; it, and get on with being James&#8217; wife.</p>
<p><em><a title="Trigger Unhappy" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/trigger-unhappy/">Click here</a> for the third post in this series, Trigger Unhappy.</em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Depression Dialog</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/the-depression-dialogue/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/carers/the-depression-dialogue/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:01:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Carers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depressed husband]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depressed wife]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcoming depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[someone with depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/staying-well/the-depression-dialogue/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It's hard being a caregiver when all you want to be is a wife, a partner, or friend. It's important to have strategies to deal with situations and remain in your normal relationship as much as possible.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>I&#8217;ve noticed from feedback that I&#8217;ve received, from two posts in particular (<a title="12 Ways to Care" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/lifestyle/12-ways-to-care-for-a-depressed-person/">12 Ways to Care for Someone with Depression</a> and <a title="Helpful Things to Say" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/healthy-mind/ways-to-build-up-someone-with-depression/">Things to Say to Someone with Depression</a>), that issues and worries facing carers are a major concern.</em></p>
<p><em>In response, my wife Anna will be writing 4 or 5 posts about these issues, spread over the coming 3 to 4 weeks, to relate how she has coped as a caregiver.</em></p>
<p>It&#8217;s really hard being a caregiver when all you want to be is a wife, husband, partner, or friend. It&#8217;s important to have strategies to deal with different situations and remain in your normal relationship as much as possible. This is what I want to work through in these posts.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve learned over time that James and I can relate to each other in a rational manner even when he is ill. This has been a learning process; it hasn&#8217;t always been the case. And I still often feel like I&#8217;m walking on egg shells depending on the severity of the episode.</p>
<p>The key strategy that I&#8217;ve learned is how to talk to James when he is sick, either high or low. When he becomes ill he turns into a different person. I say goodbye to my husband, so to speak, and hello to bipolar James. In a depressive episode he becomes highly irritable and usually itches for a fight. Early on he will often make comments to bait me. &#8220;All I do is work, work, work, to support your lifestyle and your precious social group.&#8221; You can imagine what a red rag to a bull that comment is.</p>
<p>At this point I have 2 options:<br />
1. Take the bait, have a messy fight and accelerate his downswing, or<br />
2. Grit my teeth and say &#8220;it&#8217;s the illness speaking&#8221;. If I can do that then I have a much better chance of diffusing the situation. A comment like &#8220;You sound stressed about work &#8211; let&#8217;s talk&#8221; has better results and sometimes can even stop the mood swing.</p>
<p>Lately I&#8217;ve also been able to say &#8220;Let&#8217;s talk before you get stuck in a negative cycle of thinking.&#8221; This is huge progress for us. It usually results in a fairly sensible conversation.</p>
<p>James says some very hurtful things to me when he&#8217;s depressed, but I only tell him how he&#8217;s hurt me when he&#8217;s better. I wait until he is rational and can deal with it, rather than inflame the situation further when he is ill. I&#8217;ve also learned not to take his bait so personally, as I&#8217;ve come to recognize it for what it is.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to know that I couldn&#8217;t do this if I didn&#8217;t recognize the start of a mood swing. You need to listen to what is really being said before you reply to comments. Is the person sick? Are they really asking for help? Is this a normally held opinion? A few seconds of thought can save a lot of heartbreak.</p>
<p>Next time I can get on the computer I&#8217;ll write on learning about the illness and recognizing early symptoms.</p>
<p><em><a title="Know the Enemy" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/carers/know-the-enemy/">Click here</a> for the second post in this series, Know the Enemy.</em></p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
<p>Are you looking for ways to help someone with depression? </p>
<p>Our electronic mood charts are very effective in helping people work out the triggers of their depression, the early warning signs of new episodes, and the most effective strategies, specific to them, that they can adopt to stay well.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, they give people the tools to be proactive with their mental health. </p>
<p>Please take a look at our <a href="http://www.findingoptimism.com">mood chart apps</a>, and consider purchasing a license for the person you care for.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>15</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Things to Say to Someone With Depression</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/healthy-mind/ways-to-build-up-someone-with-depression/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/healthy-mind/ways-to-build-up-someone-with-depression/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:52:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Healthy Mind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loving someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcoming depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[someone with depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/healthy-mind/ways-to-build-up-someone-with-depression/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well meaning people may attempt to fix the problem. "Have you tried aromatherapy? Acupuncture?" This kind of comment comes across as trivializing the illness.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A recent post was titled <a title="Insulting Someone with Depression" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/healthy-mind/depression-what-to-say/">Ways to Insult Someone with Depression</a>. This post is the flip-side, with things to say that are helpful.</p>
<p><strong>1. Be On Their Side</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The depressed person will often be defensive, so an accusatory tone is not helpful. Try to convey a sense of understanding. It isn&#8217;t helpful to say &#8220;Why can&#8217;t you just get out of bed?&#8221; Instead try &#8220;You seem to have trouble getting out of bed in the mornings. What can I do to help you in this area?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The person may have lost perspective on how big a problem actually is. They will find it hard to hear that what is insurmountable for them is actually not such a big deal. It is unhelpful to say &#8220;What&#8217;s your problem? You&#8217;re upset about nothing.&#8221; Instead try &#8220;You seem to be finding this issue a big deal at the moment. Can we solve it together?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>When I was very sick, I often thought that my wife was trying to ruin my life. To counter that kind of thinking she would often say &#8220;We are a team. I am on your side.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Depression is an awful illness, a whole world away from pure sympathy-seeking. So you should treat it as such. &#8220;I trust you. If you had a choice in the matter you wouldn&#8217;t choose to have depression. How about we search for some solutions together?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><span id="more-92"></span><strong>2. Give Plenty of Reassurance</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Many people suffering with depression feel unworthy of being loved. You need to reassure them frequently. For example &#8220;I love you for who you are. I am not going to leave you.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>In a similar vein, they may have lost the ability to recognize their positive attributes. You might reaffirm them with &#8220;You are a sensitive person who cares for others&#8221; or &#8220;People really love you a lot. They think you&#8217;re a great person.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If said repeatedly and with absolute sincerity then it is helpful to say &#8220;If you ever need a friend, I am here.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>3. Give Understanding and Sympathy</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>People with depression can spend a lot of time ruminating on their situation and feeling sorry for themselves. Pointing it out to them is not helpful. Instead, try to sympathize.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>&#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine how hard it is for you, but you have all my sympathy.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>&#8220;All I want to do is give you a hug and a shoulder to cry on.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>&#8220;I can&#8217;t honestly say that I know how you feel, but I want to help in any way I can.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>4. Offer to Help</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>&#8220;Let me do anything you need me to do to help.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If you ask &#8220;What is the best thing I can do to help you right now?&#8221; don&#8217;t be offended if the reply is &#8220;Leave me alone&#8221;. Sometimes, that is the most helpful thing you can do at present.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Well meaning people often attempt to immediately fix the problem. &#8220;Have you tried aromatherapy? There was an article about it in the paper&#8230;&#8221; . This kind of comment can come across as trivializing the illness. If you want to introduce a treatment idea, make sure you are respectful about the seriousness of depression. &#8220;It&#8217;s important that you stay on your medication and keep seeing your doctor. I&#8217;ve found some information on aromatherapy. Would you like to look into it with me?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>While it is important to accept the person in the state they are in, don&#8217;t let it totally consume your life. Otherwise, you&#8217;ll fall in a heap and won&#8217;t be much help to anyone. You need to take care of yourself. &#8220;I am committed to you and to helping you.  But I also need to eat / shop / go out for coffee / ring a friend / see a movie to recharge my batteries. Then I can look after you better.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p>Please add anything else that you find helpful in the comments.</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
<p>Are you looking for ways to help someone with depression? </p>
<p>Our electronic mood charts are very effective in helping people work out the triggers of their depression, the early warning signs of new episodes, and the most effective strategies, specific to them, that they can adopt to stay well.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, they give people the tools to be proactive with their mental health. </p>
<p>Please take a look at our <a href="http://www.findingoptimism.com">mood chart apps</a>, and consider purchasing a license for the person you care for.</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>127</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>12 Ways to Care for a Depressed Person</title>
		<link>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/lifestyle/12-ways-to-care-for-a-depressed-person/</link>
		<comments>http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/lifestyle/12-ways-to-care-for-a-depressed-person/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:02:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>james</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beat depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[caring for someone with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping with depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loving someone with depression]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.findingoptimism.com/lifestyle/12-ways-to-care-for-a-depressed-person/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[12 very practical ways that you can care for someone with depression.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The person with depression usually can&#8217;t see a way forward. They may fervently believe that nobody can help them, and life is pointless. That doesn&#8217;t mean that they&#8217;re right, and there are plenty of things that you can do to help.</p>
<p>The type and amount of care that you can give will depend on your relationship with the person, but here are some ideas.</p>
<p><strong>1. Understand the illness. </strong></p>
<p>Learn all that you can about depression. The better you grasp the illness, the more effective you will be in giving your care and understanding. It will help you to understand why the person behaves the way they do, and better equip you to respond appropriately.</p>
<p><span id="more-91"></span><strong>2. Seek Appropriate Treatment</strong></p>
<p>This is such a far-reaching, wide-ranging topic that I would be foolish to give advice. Suffice to say that it will be helpful for you to explore the treatment options available in your area and suggest to the person that they need professional help. It might be helpful for them if you go along to the first or subsequent appointments.</p>
<p>If he or she won&#8217;t admit their illness then explain why you are concerned and perhaps provide them with some helpful written information to chew over.</p>
<p><strong>3. Provide Emotional Support</strong></p>
<p>Your partner or friend needs patience, care and understanding. They have a real illness, and just like someone with cancer <a title="What Not To Say" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/healthy-mind/depression-what-to-say/">they can&#8217;t just &#8220;snap out of it&#8221;</a>. If they could, they would. Saying things that show ignorance about the illness is counterproductive and will reinforce their negative thinking.</p>
<p>The best way to communicate is to empathize, listen more than talk, and ask questions like &#8220;How can I support you?&#8221; or &#8220;How can I help?&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>4. Keep the Illness Separate</strong></p>
<p>The illness and the person suffering the illness are not the same thing, so keep them separate. When they express pessimism, anger, frustration, or sadness, it is the illness talking not the person. If you separate the two you will find it easier to cope emotionally. It will help you to be a more effective caregiver.</p>
<p><strong>5. Listen Non-Judgmentally </strong></p>
<p>Don&#8217;t try to talk a depressed person out of their feelings, no matter how irrational they sound. This is likely to compound the problem. It is better to remain neutral and say something like &#8220;You are obviously really suffering with this. What can I do to help you feel better?&#8221; Keep your suggestions, solutions and advice for another time.</p>
<p><strong>6. Make a Plan</strong></p>
<p>Help the person to make a plan for coping with depression. Identify things that trigger or worsen the depression and things that make it better. Think through and list the ideas formally on paper. Help them to put this plan into action. Some positive, helpful things to include are getting to bed early, having adequate sleep, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water and eating healthy foods.</p>
<p><strong>7. Look after yourself</strong></p>
<p>As a caregiver you are likely to be under stress. You need to care for yourself by taking time out and recharging your batteries. Find other friends or relatives who you can talk to and rely on at a pinch. Sometimes you will need a sounding-board to keep things in perspective. Make sure you continue to live your own life as well, and spend time doing things you enjoy.</p>
<p>There are services that provide education and support for caregivers. Through information sessions and support groups, you can talk to people who are in a similar position.</p>
<p><strong>8. Organize their medicines</strong></p>
<p>If your partner or friend is taking medicine for depression then it is crucial for them to follow their prescription. Too many people go on and off their anti-depressants depending on how they feel. This all but eliminates their effectiveness.</p>
<p>I take medicine at night without any problems, but if it wasn&#8217;t for my wife handing the pills to me I would never take them in the mornings. She also fills my scripts and tells me when to go to the doctor for more. It&#8217;s not laziness; it&#8217;s just the nature of depression. More than once I have spent hours in bed staring at my pills, but not had the mental energy to actually take them. If your partner or friend is not complying with their prescription, try to find out how you can help.</p>
<p><strong>9. Support network.</strong></p>
<p>Introduce the idea of joining a support network for depression. This will give them an outlet for discussing their problems and receiving input, and help them to discover that there are other (normal) people experiencing similar problems. There are depression support groups everywhere. Make sure that you find one that is positive and focused on recovery. Inward looking, pessimistic groups can be unhelpful.</p>
<p><strong>10. Get out and About</strong></p>
<p>One of the most therapeutic things that a depressed person can do is step out the front door. <a title="Benefits of Natural Light" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/lifestyle/seasonal_affective_disorder/">Natural light</a> is very beneficial, especially early in the day. <a title="Benefits of Exercise for Depression" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/exercise/exercise-and-mental-health/">Exercise</a> also has proven benefits. Something as simple as <a title="Ecotherapy and Depression" href="http://www.findingoptimism.com/exercise/ecotherapy-and-depression/">taking a walk or gardening</a> should lift the person&#8217;s mood. Anything low-key that involves going out can also help; seeing a movie, meeting friends, or going out to eat, just to name a few ideas.</p>
<p><strong>11. Help with daily tasks</strong></p>
<p>When your body is heavy and your mind is dark, there is nothing harder than the burdens of everyday life. Something that seems minor to you may be an insurmountable task to your friend or partner. Ease their burden by helping with the daily load &#8211; running errands, doing the shopping, cooking, taking the kids out for a couple of hours. You may be surprised to find that helping with a very simple chore could relieve them of a lot of stress.</p>
<p><strong>12. Spend normal time together</strong></p>
<p>Just spending time with the person lets them know that you care and want to understand their problems. Enjoy the reasons for being their companion in the first place. It&#8217;s important that they live as normal a life as possible. Help them to do this by carrying on your relationship with them in a normal fashion. Don&#8217;t let everything get dark and serious. Find some positive things and try to enjoy them together.</p>
<p>The points above are very general by necessity. I realize that they don&#8217;t fit all circumstances, but I hope that you find at least a few helpful ideas.</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
<p>Are you looking for ways to help someone with depression? </p>
<p>Our electronic mood charts are very effective in helping people work out the triggers of their depression, the early warning signs of new episodes, and the most effective strategies, specific to them, that they can adopt to stay well.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, they give people the tools to be proactive with their mental health. </p>
<p>Please take a look at our <a href="http://www.findingoptimism.com">mood chart apps</a>, and consider purchasing a license for the person you care for.</p>
<p>&#8211;</p>
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