There are struggles, problems and difficulties that everyone has to deal with on a daily basis. It is always nice to have others to lean on and talk things over when those problems become too heavy to carry on our own. If you have close friends or family that are struggling, consider these ways that you can help them through their problems.
Be Supportive If Possible
Support can be provided and given in different ways. One of the most effective ways to show your support is to develop your listening skills. Being a good listener gives your friends and family the confidence and trust to come to you. In addition to trust, having someone that listens more than anything is critical to people struggling with everyday life. You want to have someone that you can talk to and not feel judged. As an active listener, you need to find a balance between listening and giving advice. You need to build a level of empathy that can help you recognize how to respond to your friends that will be best for them. Providing advice can work sometimes, while simply listening or just being around can be the most effective tool to help friends get through the pressures of life. Creating a safe environment is important as a support system.
Get Professional Help
People deal with various levels of stress and pressure. It is important to know what amount of support you are capable of realistically giving. If you feel that your friends or family need more help than you can offer, you should consider helping them in a way that allows them to reach out to find a potential rehab center or therapist that can properly assist with coping with their struggles. Professionals that are well experienced with dealing with both daily struggles and more severe bouts of depression, stress and anxiety will be able to help when you cannot provide the support they need. Especially when a close friend or family member comes to you with confidence, it is important that you stress that assistance is available and that if they need more help, it is okay. You are still there as a support role, but encouraging them towards more capable experts.
Understanding And Recognizing Symptoms Of Depression
As people deal with the pressures of everyday life, they may not come out directly to you seeking help. Learning about different symptoms and signs of depression can be a critical tool to have. You never really know what someone is going through, but seeing signs that they may be struggling can address issues early on, preventing any potential danger they may put themselves into. As people attempt to deal with stress and anxiety on their own, they may seek vices as coping mechanisms that are more harmful than good. Examples of potentially harmful strategies to cope with someone struggling with their personal issues include increased drug and alcohol consumption, or changes in personality and behavior. If situations worsen, individuals may even put themselves in a mindset or situation where self-harm or even suicide are options they consider. If it reaches these concerning levels, you should consider directing them to a suicide hotline or even emergency numbers. Seeing symptoms early on can allow you to reach out to determine if there are viable solutions or if you need further assistance.
Ensure Your Own Health
Dealing with stress and struggle is difficult. Of course, it gets easier when you share the weight of your stress with others. However, if you are in the support role, and the interactions or relationships you have with people result in them always unburdening themselves to you, that can take its toll as well. Everyone has their own problems, and supporting others can result in you ignoring the need to care for yourself in multiple ways. Mental stress can take its toll. It is important that you prioritize your physical and mental wellbeing. You cannot realistically help others in the ways they might need support if you, yourself become overwhelmed and need help as well. Ensure that you take care of yourself and then you can concern yourself with others, being more present and empathetic to their situation.
It is important to take struggles that you and those around you seriously. Detriments to your mental health should not be ignored and can develop into problems that get worse or bigger. Understanding how to cope and deal with different problems of your own or those around you will help to create a safe environment that you can feel confident and safe about.