Ways to respond when someone says they have depression.
Hey readers,
You will likely come into contact with someone who battles depression at some point.
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If a friend or member of your family has opened up to you about their depression, you probably want to know how you can support them.
When someone opens up to you about their mental health, responding constructively is crucial because depression is a severe illness.
We're here to assist by demonstrating how to react when someone discloses they have depression. Do you wish to discuss it? When you're ready.
1. I'll be here.
Although you can't make someone talk, letting them know you're there for them can make them feel supported.
You should remark you've noticed they're having a hard time, and you're available if they want to talk if they haven't been open with you about their melancholy.
If you merely ask them, "Are you OK?" they may already be accustomed to acting fine and say, "I'm fine."
Tell them you'll be there for them when they're ready to chat if they're not ready right away.
They might consider your offer and come to you when they are struggling and need someone to discuss their issues.
2. Offer a silent embrace or hug.
Silence is a vital tool that may acknowledge the gravity of a situation without adding to it.
Hugging or holding their hand might be a soothing act if you have a close relationship with someone.
Sometimes, nothing more than your presence not your words is required.
3. Take as much time as necessary.
Even seemingly simple things can feel daunting to someone experiencing severe depression or simply in a terrible mood.
Even simple tasks like cooking or taking a shower may seem overwhelming, especially in the morning.
Giving them more time to do these duties is a good idea because many people with depression experience mood improvements as the day draw to a close.
4. Try to have these discussions face-to-face.
Although it's acceptable to have these chats over the phone or via text, speaking in person is much more helpful.
So much is lost through texting in terms of tone and harshness. You could suggest they pick up the phone if someone texts you and admits they're depressed. As previously mentioned, you could also call them right away.
Feeling burdensome is a sign of depression, so even if someone wants to talk on the phone, they might hold off because they don't want to feel like an imposition.
Alternatively, reply to their SMS with a statement that you care about them and are open to a face-to-face conversation.
What suggestions would you give to speak to someone with depression?
Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.
Cheers for reading x
Why can dancing relief stress
1. The mind feels good.
The scientific reason why dance can act as a stress reliever stems from the idea that when the body feels good, the mind does, too.
Any type of physical activity releases neurotransmitters and endorphins which serve to alleviate stress.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals within the brain that help communicate messages throughout the body. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller to reduce stress and improve the mind’s perception of the world.
Thus, after a good workout, the endorphins cause the body to feel calm and optimistic. The endorphins also aid in improving the quality of sleep, so that a few sleepless nights due to stress can be avoided after dancing!
2. Improve your fine motor skills, coordination and balance.
Good coordination and balance are what stop you from walking into things or falling over.
Dancing is a very intricate art form, and as you can see from the routines on Strictly, it requires a lot of coordination and balance.
With a lot of practice, you will even find you become less dizzy when doing a dance that involves lots of spinning around, such as the waltz.
Dancing is also an excellent way of improving your fine motor skills - these are movements involving your hands, fingers, feet and toes, which aren't necessarily the focus of other types of exercise.
Dance classes can even teach you how to fall more safely, so you'll learn how to reduce the impact if you do take a tumble.
3. Dance can help with weight loss.
Dancing is also a form of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise, which is a great calorie burner, Dr Gardner says, “Jumping and twirling movements are great aerobic training while holding positions of squatting and balance positions can turn on the anaerobic energy system,” she explains. In general, the more up-tempo the dance style, the more calories and energy will be burned.
Depending on the style of dance and your body weight, 30 minutes of dancing can burn between 90 and 252 calories. This type of high-intensity calorie burning can help support weight loss if you’re trying to shed pounds.
If you want to maximize calorie burn, Granger suggests taking a dance cardio class, designed to blast calories and improve physical fitness.
4. Social touch.
Many types of dance require you to be physically closer to people than you would usually be in everyday interaction.
Your dance partner or group enter your bubble, known academically as your ‘peri-personal’ space.
This form of close contact (when it is consensual and with partners, you are comfortable with) releases a chemical called oxytocin.
This hormone makes us feel sociable and helps us bond with the people around us.
We are innately social animals, with much in common with our primate ancestors. Our need for physical social contact is not dissimilar to how monkeys use grooming to connect with and comfort each other.
In today’s reserved society, we are considerably lacking in intimate, platonic interactions. Christensen says we need at least 8 hugs a day to feel human. Alternatively, 4 hugs and a dance class.
5. Dancing is fun.
Dancing is an enjoyable exercise. Although dance is an art form and a discipline that requires concentration and practice, it is also a very enjoyable form of exercise.
Whether your favourite type of dance is Classical Waltz, Jazz, Tap, Zumba, Hip Hop or Free-Form Modern Improvisation, you will enjoy the social aspects of classes that include partnering with other dancers, group dancing and creative, free-form expression as you learn, practice and perform different modes and styles of dance.
You will feel youthful, free limber and stronger from dancing regularly.
Cheers for reading X