hey logybren, the best thing you can do is be there for them, as long as its healthy for you too. Just give your support, and show the love, that is a good start. good luck.

I got some good guidance from a book called, "When Someone You Love Is Depressed." It did a good job of explaining what is and is not helpful to your loved one, and also focused on the need for you to take care of yourself, too. http://www.amazon.com/When-Someone-You-Love-Depressed/dp/0684834073/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213580288&sr=8-1

First and foremost a doctor's visit if this hasn't already been done. They can help a lot and may send the person in question to a specialist. There is nothing to worry about in seeking help whatsoever! It does not mean that one is crazy or anything of the sort and it can be of great benefit just talking to a pro; often they can give some much needed 3rd party perspective. Support is very important from those closest and can make a world of difference. Sunlight and lights that have the full spectrum help many and sure can't hurt; they help me a good bit. You have to dig deep but fostering a sense of humor is great and worth the digging. My email address is in my profile; feel free to use it if you need someone to talk to; don't hesitate.

If it is long-term, medical help should be sought. There are medications that will help a great deal. A short-term depression due to something very upsetting (like the death of a loved one..or divorce) is understandable..we've all gone through it..we've all been there. But if it is not easily explainable, and its grip does not lessen over time, then chances are the depression isn't going to get better or go away on its own! Good luck..hope the person(s) in question seeks help if needed.

First i want to say, I'm sorry you are experiencing depression and here's a HUG. <3 I have Bipolar Disorder (in which you experience episodes of extreme depression and agonizing mania) and I did a newsletter for a Bipolar Support Group, for people who were bipolar or experiencing just depression in general. I've done a lot of reading and research on the topic, and I have something that might help you. I have put together a list of proven tips for people experiencing depression due to mental health issues. There are many things you can do that can help or even treat your depression. They include: getting professional help, finding a good psychiatrist, finding a good medicine, taking supplements and vitamins, eating right, getting enough sleep, excercising, spending time outside in the sun each day, managing your time, breathing deeply, avoiding substances, getting social support and going to a support group at a local church. All of these have been proven to benefit and even treat medical depression/bipolar disorder. Here is the link to the webpage of tips: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcp466nb_42gxwtw4gw And I'll paste the text below. Feel better soon! Love, Amy PIERCING THE DARKNESS (part one) 12 Proven Tips For Those Experiencing Depression Due To Mental Health Issues by Amy Chappell (Note: depression is not necessarily due to mental illness or issues of brain function. It can also be due to misbeliefs, faulty self-talk, negative thinking, and even spiritual health, including direct demonic oppression--all of which I have experienced. I have created separate webpages to address these different types and causes of depression. Links coming soon.) 1) Get professional help now. "Many people sabotage themselves by denying they have brain problems until significant damage has been done to their lives," says Dr. Amen, a clinical neuroscientist, child and adolescent psychiatrist, and medical directer of the Amen Clinic For Behavioral Medicine. "Most psychiatrists feel that there is a significant brain component to depression, anxiety problems, attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse problems and even violence. Unfortunately, the stigma associated with seeing a psychiatrist still prevents people from seeking help for obvious problems. "Clearly, the earlier people seek help for these problems the less negative impact they will have on their lives. If you struggle with any of these problems you are not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, 49 percent of Americans will have a psychiatric illness (depression, anxiety, ADD, OCD, substance abuse problems, etc.) at some point in their lives. Successful people have problems, they are smart enough to seek help. The earlier the better." A professionals, input, perspective, wisdom and resources can be invaluable in your life if you struggle with any sort of mental illness. 2) Find a great psychiatrist, preferably someone who works with natural medicine as well as medicines. You don't always have to take medicines, medicine might not be right for you. It depends on the person. Natural alternatives can be just as effective for some people. For some, a combination is best. You may have to be persistent. I saw four or five psychiatrists before I found the right one. Don't settle for less: psychiatrists who force you to keep taking medicine, despite side affects, increase your dosage past a healthy amount, are insensitive and harsh or just aren't able to help you, for example. One psychiatrist told me there was nothing more she could do for me. But just because they can't do anything more for you, doesn't mean the medical community, psychiatrists or medicines can't do anything more for you. 3) Find good medicine that works for you. (One that is affective and with which you experience little or no side affects). I have Bipolar Disorder, in which I experienced depressive and manic episodes. After trying many many different medicines and experiencing various side affects (so worth it! and you might not experience any side affects yourself..), I found three that, when combined, worked for me. I also take supplements. Note: The medicine(s) that works is unique to each person. What might give me side affects and not work could be your miracle. 4) Take supplements and vitamins daily. Dr. Amen says, that in addition to eating right (see tip number 7), vitamins are important: "I also believe taking a 100% vitamin and mineral supplement is important." Some great supplements for mood stability (which I take) include: • 5 HTP: "The amino acid 5-HTP naturally raises levels of serotonin, a substance that the brain and nerve cells use to communicate. Some antidepressants...also perform this function, but [they can produce sideaffects]. The amino acid's effect on serotonin relieves stress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, migraines, other types of pain, and fybrimyalgia. 5 HTP also improves sleep, promotes hormonal balance, and helps control appetite and cravings for carbs...." • Deproloft: (produced by Thorne Research): "Nutrient cofactors for the formation of beneficial neurotransmitters, combined with botanicals for mood elevation." • Rhodiola: "Laboratory and animal studies show that the herb may inhibit cancer cells, protect healthy cells from toxins, and correct enzyme imbalances associated with diabetes. In addition, four trials with human volunteers show that rhodiola extracts can boost mental performance, reduce fatigue, and ease depression.."~Brian Vastag, article "Warming to a Cold War Herb: Soviet secret finds its way west". • Fish oil/DHA. The number one thing I would recommend that is natural: fish oil (DHA*)/omega 3's. In studies fish oil has "can help smooth out the mood swings of bipolar disorder"--webmd.com. "Numerous studies, such as a recent one published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, show that fish oil can improve mood." ~Better Nutrition, a magazine my local vitamin store sells on their counter. "In the recent trial, fish oil was as effective as a popular prescription medication for depression." ~Better Nutrition I have taken DHA from a plant source (the supplements are called Neuromins--you can get them at your local vitamin store). I found that to be more effective for me than fish oil regarding episodes. When I was in mania and it brought me down quite a bit. I take it daily now. Fish oil doesn't just help the mood. It is also "beneficial for maintaining a healthy heart, at higher doses, with the oversight of a physician, could be beneficial where disease exists. The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil cool inflammation, protect the heart, and reduce physical and emotional pain, risk for disease, and premature aging. ...[It] reduced chronic back and neck pain among 125 people, to the point where more than half of them stopped taking pain medication." "...Studies...have found that fish oil helps relieve inflammatory skin conditions and reduces sunburn. It also reduces the risk for diabetes, aggressive behavior, and is a key nutrient for the healthful development of babies and growth of children."~Better Nutrition There are many other supplements... *"DHA is shorthand for docosahexaenoic acid. This omega-3 long chain fatty acid is the primary building block of the brain and retina of the eye. The brain is 60% fat, and DHA is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain, comprising 25-35%." "Because human beings cannot adequately synthesize DHA, most of it is obtained from our diets. The richest sources are red meats, animal organs and eggs - among the first foods to be eliminated by people concerned about fat intake. Today, the average American is getting less DHA from food, and vegetarians, vegans, and people on low fat diets are especially at risk. Fish are a good dietary source, but must be eaten several times a week to provide enough DHA for optimal brain function. Fish obtain their DHA from microalgae. 5) "Eat to live." "The foods you eat are vital to keep a healthy mind and body, so follow a nutritious diet that will enable you to be physically and mentally fit. Remember the old saying that says, 'You are what you eat?' Well, that is exactly right, so if you eat healthy foods, you will be healthy and feel healthy." Read the book called Eat To Live (amazon.com). It's not just for weight loss, it's for health. It's so good my insurance company gives it out for free. Dr. Amen explains, "The fuel you feed your brain has a profound effect on how it functions. Lean protein, complex carbohydrates and foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids (large cold water fish, such as tuna and salmon, walnuts, Brazil nuts, olive oil, and canola oil) are essential to brain function. Unfortunately, the great American diet is filled with simple sugars and simple carbohydrates, causing many people to feel emotional, sluggish, spacey and distracted." 6) Get enough sleep: "Sleep deprivation is linked to high levels of distress and depression; sleep is essential for your mind and body to recharge and recover from the daily hassles of life. Try to get your 6-8 hours a sleep every night, doing this will help you feel very energetic and make you have a more clear state of mind." Dr. Amen talks about sleep deprivation in his article, Seven Ways To Optimize Your Brain ( http://smartnow.com/page/5761 ): "Sleep deprivation...decreases brain activity and limits access to learning, memory, and concentration. A recent brain imaging study showed that people who consistently slept fewer than seven hours had overall less brain activity. Sleep problems are very common in people who struggle with their thoughts and emotions. Getting enough sleep every day is essential to brain function. " 7) Exercise: "Get involved in any type of physical activity, anything, just get moving. Exercising can relieve tension, stress, anxiety and depressing feelings; it also triggers the release of endorphins, the feeling good chemicals in our body. By exercising you will be in shape and prevent other medical problems that can cause depression as a secondary disorder; exercising is always a win- win situation." "Exercise affects mood and anxiety. It can be equal in benefit to routine doses of Zoloft, a common antidepressant. In a study, the people doing exercise were doing better than the group that received Zoloft. Exercise affects brain chemistry and brain cells in much the same way, perhaps exactly the same way, as antidepressant medications. Exercise can actually treat depression. Depression can cause brain shrinkage and effective treatments can stop and and at least partially reverse that shrinkage. Exercise can cause better mental skills and memory, and even cause the brain to be more active. And exercise, can increase the size of the brain, in the brain regions known to shrink when people have mood problems. Exercise, like other effective antidepressants, can reverse brain shrinkage."~James R. Phelps, M.D 8) Spend 30 minutes or more each day outside in the sun. Sun greatly affects the mood. "The sun can alter your mood chemically and even prevent depression."~BBC "Serotonin levels increase when you're exposed to bright light...This hormone is the basis of today's most popular and successful antidepressant drugs, called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by helping naturally produced serotonin stay in the bloodstream longer, keeping your mood and energy levels higher." ~medicinenet.com " Research "easily proves that the sun and light really do alter our mood, and have great influence on our lives."~ http://www.studyworld.com/newsit... 9) Manage your time. "Too much to do and not enough time? Break things down into smaller tasks and prioritize. Don't try to do more than what your body can handle in a day, this simply won't work out. Always plan to do whats coming first, try to have a deadline and your top three priorities, this will always let you do what you have to do, but also do the things you enjoy." 10) Breathe deeply. "Give a few minutes to yourself a day to do some breathing exercises...Doing these exercises will get rid of many stressors crawling in your body and by deep breathing, you will oxygenate your mind and body to a degree of feeling relaxed and in an optimum state of feeling well. Try to do these techniques before you get out of bed and once you go to bed."~Dr. Amen "Deep relaxation is easily achieved by most people through diaphragmatic breathing exercises (learning how to breathe with your belly). This is the most natural, efficient way to breathe. Have you ever seen how a puppy or a baby breathes? They breathe almost exclusively with their bellies. A quick way to learn belly breathing is to lay on the floor and put a book on your belly. As you breathe in make the book rise as you fill your lower lungs with air. As you breathe out make the book fall as you use your belly to exhale all the air out of your lungs. Take slow, deep breaths, less than seven a minute. One of my patients told me that it was impossible for him to be anxious or mad when he breathed in this way."~Dr. Amen 11) Flee from substances. Says Dr. Amen: "Current brain imaging research has shown that many chemicals are toxic to brain function. Alcohol, drugs of abuse, nicotine, much caffeine and many medications decrease blood flow to the brain. When blood flow is decreased the brain cannot work efficiently. In one study done at UCLA, cocaine addicts had 23% less overall brain blood flow compared to a drug free control group. Those cocaine addicts who smoked cigarettes had 45% less blood flow than the control group. In a study I performed on chronic marijuana users, 85% had less activity in their temporal lobes than the control group. The temporal lobes are involved with memory and mood stability. Caffeine constricts blood vessels and has been shown to decrease brain activity. A little bit of caffeine probably doesn't hurt much. Unfortunately, many people use excessive amounts, such as 6 to 10 cups of coffee, tea or sodas a day. It is hard to be your best when brain activity is diminished. Stay away substances known to be toxic or those that decrease brain activity." A doctor talks about using marijuana if you have Bipolar Disorder in an online article: "Persons...who have problems with anxiety, mood swings and psychotic symptoms should NEVER NEVER EVER go near marijuana [or any other drugs]. Your brain is already having some problems staying stable. ...If you smoke or eat marijuana [or any other drug] you will be sabotaging your treatment - hurting the chances of your medicines to help you remain stable, and forcing your brain to get even more whacked out than it already is."... Dr. Dombeck, mentalhelp.net 12) Have social support: "Having a good social support has been shown to prevent depression and to help people get out of it, plus preventing a relapse. A good social support means to have a good relationship with friends, family members, to go out and to simply be 'social.' If you don't feel like being more social, force yourself a little bit more since this will help you prevent depression and make your life more enjoyable." Also, joining a support group for Bipolars or people with Depression (there are many out there, I recommend contacting your local church) can be such a positive thing if you're dealing with regular debilitating mental illness. You will never forget what it's like to walk into a room of people for the first time who actually understand what you're going through--the thoughts, emotions and behaviors--and can offer advice, comfort, information, fellowship, love and friendship. There is a special kind of bond and understanding that occurs between two people who have experienced, or are experiencing, the same Darkness. Get better, Love, Amy