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Catty1
07-27-2008, 11:20 PM
http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/Bipolar/Site/depression/best_worst_words.asp

Best Things to Say to Someone Who Is Depressed

It is most tempting, when you find out someone is depressed, to attempt to immediately fix the problem. However, until the depressed person has given you permission to be their therapist (as a friend or professional), the following responses are more likely to help the depressed.

The things that didn't make me feel worse are words which 1) acknowledge my depression for what it is (Not 'it's just a phase') 2) give me permission to feel depressed (Not 'but why should you be sad?')

1. "I love you!"

2. "I care"

3. "You're not alone in this"

4. "I'm not going to leave/abandon you"

5. "Do you want a hug?"

6. "I love you (if you mean it)."

7. "It will pass, we can ride it out together."

8. "When all this is over, I'll still be here (if you mean it) and so will you."

9. "Don't say anything, just hold my hand and listen while I cry."

10. "All I want to do now is give you a hug and a shoulder to cry on.."

11. "Hey, you're not crazy!"

12. "May the strength of the past reflect in your future."

13. "God does not play dice with the universe." --A. Einstein

14. "A miracle is simply a do-it-yourself project." --S. Leek

15. "We are not primarily on earth to see through one another, but to see one another through" - (from someone's sig.)

16. "If the human brain were simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it." --a codeveloper of Prozac, quoted from "Listening to Prozac"

17. "You have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to live an ordinary life?" --from the movie "Little Women" (Marmee to Jo)

18. "I understand your pain and I empathize."

19. "I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself so you don't need to worry that your pain might hurt me."

20. "I listen to you talk about it, and I can't imagine what it's like for you. I just can't imagine how hard it must be."

21. "I can't really fully understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion."

22. "You are important to me."

23. "If you need a friend..... (and mean it)"

Compiled by [email protected].

CathyBogart
07-28-2008, 12:42 PM
These are great. I've been poking around the website they came from and I really like it.

jennielynn1970
07-28-2008, 02:29 PM
Why's the list so much shorter, lol?!

CathyBogart
07-28-2008, 02:34 PM
Probably because the presence of a good friend is more important than words. :)

lovespeaks
07-29-2008, 12:19 AM
Probably because the presence of a good friend is more important than words. :)
agree, mostly important.

and because I have seen many people failed in doing this so for not understanding and thinking otherwise; extremely mentally ill. thinks they know all about depression then neglection comes next.

I also say when you're my friend, we share problems and worries; less weight. they know themselves better than you.