Families often feel helpless in the face of depression, especially if the depressed family member refuses to communicate meaningfully. The family might react by in turn withdrawing from the sufferer, almost frightened to be perceived as "interfering". Alternatively they might exhort the sufferer to "just pull up those socks" or "look on the bright side".



But neither of these stances are logical or effective!

Keep in mind that depression is not a private matter just for the sufferer. It is truly a family matter, and even a community matter, because of the damage it does to everyone. So the family has a right to insist that the sufferer receive and co-operate with treatment. Additionally, life and death matters take first place over privacy matters. You might want to try to help to reduce the stress level of the sufferer, but this should never involve enabling them to avoid treatment.

With a little knowledge, families CAN be effective in working together to help avoid their members' becoming depressed in the first place, and to resolve depression very quickly if it does arise. This knowledge is in relation to crucial lifestyle factors.

For instance although the estimation of fluid requirements have been somewhat overstated in the past, we still find people presenting with depression solely due to dehydration. Immediately the sufferer starts eating and drinking normally, the depression magically disappears.

Another lifestyle factor is the person's activity level. Without sufficient activity to stimulate the body's various systems, we can quickly become very depressed, including having every one of the physical symptoms associated with depression. If depression is being experienced, then the introduction of a brisk 30-minute walk each day can bring rapid improvement, especially if this is done socially, meaning with at least one other person.

In fact there are some 17 lifestyle "mistakes", each one of which is capable of producing depression. Unfortunately these mistakes have become so common that in some families and communities they are the new norm! In protecting yourself and your family from depression, it pays to look over the check list and get life back on healthy track again!

With depression rates rising very quickly, it's important to note that the free book "17 Solutions" outlines these 17 lifestyle errors and describes how to overcome them.

Apart from lifestyle factors, thinking styles or thinking patterns also play a part and must be addressed. The family can play a small role in helping by refusing to listen to "broken record" comments or complaints. Hearing someone out comprehensively the first or second time is one thing, but encouraging someone to dwell on these things isn't useful. It's very important that family members do their best not to be affected by the depression, and remain determined to live a life that is healthy and happy, and continue to invite the depressed person to join them.

As well as intelligent help from the family, it's essential for the sufferer to receive therapy in order to firstly resolve issues that may have helped create the depression, and secondly to eliminate unwanted thoughts and feelings that keep the depression in place. BMSA should be the treatment of choice in most cases, provided that is delivered by a properly qualified health professional, in the context of a comprehensive therapy plan.

BMSA is suitable for both self-help and professional therapy, and in most cases the therapist will encourage supervised use of the technique in between sessions. The book "Relieving Depression - Quickly, Easily and Safely" has been written for health professionals and clients alike.

A professional therapist will also examine a host of issues (such as relationships, trauma, and health) that can play a part in depression, and help the sufferer to think through an solve problems more effectively.

Most people are well aware of privacy legislation and the fact that therapy is private. Normally your therapist may not disclose to ANYONE what occurs in therapy, other than their supervisor, and then only in a way that does not identify the client. However when suicidality is an issue the therapist is required by law to get written permission to pass specific information to specific people, in order to protect the client.

The object of therapy is certainly to assist the sufferer to overcome depression, but also to remain alive in the meantime!

Do be aware that if you or a family member has been prescribed antidepressants that this medication must not be stopped abruptly. The withdrawal effects have the potential to be quite catastrophic, so make sure that staged withdrawal is completed under medical supervision

The main point of this article has been that by attending to lifestyle issues and also to depressed, habitual thinking styles, depression can be resolved very quickly, and also permanently, provided you avoid disproven therapies such as "talk" therapies, or CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) styles. Purchase a comprehensive manual on depression treatment, work with a good therapist, and also look out for excellent information and support on the net.