010 SelfWork: How To Love Someone With Depression
Loving someone who is trying to heal from depression can be a tough job. So here’s some help!
In this podcast, Dr. Margaret gives you tangible tips (Dr. M’s focus is always, “What you can do about it!”) and thoughtful recognitions. Included is a brief rundown of the different modes of depression itself, and special attention is given to the problem of depressions that can reoccur, perhaps with the seasons, specific triggers, within personality disorders or seemingly at random. She quotes millennial writer Hope Racine in the Huffington Post in giving down-to-earth advice on taking care of yourself in the process, and adds lots of examples and ideas from her own patients.
Included is a poignant example of a patient who brought her husband in, so that he could better understand her struggle with recurrent depression. What follows is a wonderful metaphor for anyone suffering from depression, and how their loved ones can truly “get it.”
Last, as in every episode, Dr. Margaret answers a question from a listener. The topic is coping with bipolar disorder – how you can be proactive and help yourself – as well as a question about learning to trust your therapist.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast!
Hope Racine’s original article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/literally-darling/loving-someone-with-depression_b_4002503.html
Dr. Michael Yapko’s book on depression in families:
https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Me-Down-Blues-Depression-Spreading-Families/dp/0312263325
The Optimism app on I Tunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/optimism/id352262677?mt=8
You can hear more about mental health and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive one weekly newsletter including my weekly blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!
My new book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression has arrived and you can order here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.
And there’s a new way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!