What to Do When Someone You Love Is Depressed: A Practical, Compassionate, and Helpful Guide

By Susan K. Golant and Mitch Golant

Book Overview

A clinical psychologist and expert on depression updates the book that has helped thousands with its combination of professional advice and comfort

There are few circumstances in life as hard and at the same time as important as being a friend to a person who is suffering from depression. What to Do When Someone You Love Is Depressed offers guidance to the friends and family of a depressed person on how to keep one's own spirits up and at the same time do what is best to help a loved one get through a difficult time. Among the many subjects addressed are
- the warning signs of serious illness
- how to maintain intimacy and communication
- the most successful forms of treatment
- what to do when someone threatens suicide
This updated edition addresses readers' questions and provides new and expanded information on
- how to choose the right psychiatrist
- the role and limits of medication
- resistant depression
- the link between depression and chronic illness
- specific challenging situations and advice on handling them

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805082778
• ISBN13: 9780805082777
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Words of wisdom and comfort

An excellent book on depression. It helps me so much to understand my loved one's emotional roller-coasters at times. "Pay attention to the feelings underlying depressed one's words, not specific content of the words;" practicing "the wisdom and pain of silence," are just some examples of good and practical advice for handling various difficult situations. Recommend wholeheartedly.

Someone you Love is Depressed

Very Good and helpful book hoping it will keep me on the right track where I want to be. It has helped my boyfriend understand alittle more.

Great starting place

I bought this book second; and loved it. The first book I bought "How to Survive When They Are Depressed" was awful. This book is a great overview. One important thing; this book giveing insight into what the depressed person is thinking and feeling; both about the depression and when depressed. This book could go more in depth; for exaple the list of things depressed people hate to hear, is waaay too short; there is so much more that could have been added. However, what is there is great and well worth it. I am the depressed person in our family and have had my parents and boyfreind read it.

Helpful but sometimes incomplete

I bought this book for my husband and his family and for my family to help them understand my depression and gather some better methods for supporting me. It is helpful, as it is very informational about all facets of the disorder: what a depressed person experiences, different types of depression, medication options, etc. One thing I was excited about was the list of "depressed people's sayings" and the list of responses NOT to give and alternative, better responses. This is a helpful list, since this is one of the problems I encounter the most ("You shouldn't think that way," "That's silly," "You're hurting those who love you"). However, the responses are repetitions, mostly of "I know you feel that way now, but we will get through this together." And, even though this is a good response, saying it as a response to everything someone says just sounds silly. However, the concept of the list is wonderful, since it serves the purpose of showing people flaws in their responses.As is the case with this example, other advice/information is good and beneficial, but incomplete or repetitious. I suppose the excuse is that it's impossible to analyze a disorder that is different for everyone, hard to pin down, and extremely difficult for a non-depressed person to understand. However, for a general overview and introduction to depression for non-depressed friends or family members, this is a good book to buy.

accessible help with depression

As a clinical social worker, I frequently recommend this book to clients, colleagues and friends for help with their depressed family members. The section on anti-depressant medication is especially clear and easy to understand. Dr. Golant's recommended strategies are enhanced by his use of vignettes from his practice and personal life to make a very touching and accessible book.