Recent studies have found that, unfortunately, teen depression is on the rise. Parents and other caregivers, in their attempts to help, sometimes inadvertently say things that are unhelpful or downright hurtful.
“What to say: You’re not alone in this. What NOT to say: There’s always someone worse off than you are. What to say: You are important to me. What NOT to say: No one ever said that life was fair. What to say: I can’t really understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion. What NOT to say: Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once…” [Source: Health.com]
People who struggle with depression don’t need to know that we understand as much as they need to know that we love them and will be there for them whether we understand or not. We need to remember that there are no simple solutions (or causes) for depression.
Labels: depression
Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton