If you are depressed or know someone who is, there are a number of things you should not say to them when they are diagnosed. These include: criticizing, judgment, shame, guilt, anger, control, and sympathy. Some people with depression do not respond well to any of these types of statements. It is important that you be understanding when this happens because it will only cause the depression to get worse.
Criticizing a person can often send the person in a downward spiral of depression. They will become angry and then feel guilty for criticizing themselves. The more they criticize themselves, the worse off they will become and that may cause them to seek treatment for depression. This is why some people refer to it as "shame therapy."
Judgment: When you judge a person, you are telling them that their choices are incorrect. They are wrong for making a decision about themselves. If this is the case, depression can set in. For this reason, don't judge your friends or family members harshly.
Shame: Shaming is sending someone down. They feel that they are worthless, stupid, or stupid for their actions. They may become depressed because of the shame they feel. For example, they may blame themselves for making a choice in life or doing the wrong thing. That may cause them to feel depressed even more than the original problem caused.
Guilt: Guilt is the worst of all the things not to say to people with depression. People who are depressed do not feel good enough about themselves, so they assign blame to someone else. The more they blame someone or something, the deeper into depression they will sink.
Boredom: This is another one of the cliches that are often used to describe depression. Depression can feel like you have been left alone and you don't know what to do anymore. It can be similar to being in a small town and there is nothing much to do.
Guilt When a person is depressed, they will find themselves feeling guilty for everything. They will be excessively thinking about what they did wrong and why they are being punished. For example, if someone eats too much, they will be guilt-ridden, and they will eat even more to make up for it.
Anger: Sometimes anger and depression go together. Someone who is depressed may start to pick fights with people over trivial issues. If both parties engage in fighting, it can become serious and lead to a more serious problem. If you notice that you are picking quarrels with someone over trivial issues as a way to try and get attention, it may lead to depression.
