To motivate someone with depression, offer patient, non-judgmental support by listening, validating their feelings, and gently encouraging small actions like self-care or getting outside, focusing on behavioral activation (action leading to motivation) rather than just words, and helping them access professional help, while avoiding toxic positivity or minimizing their struggle.
If someone you know is battling with depression, here are some encouraging things to say.
Focus on their feelings
Encourage the person to share how they felt emotionally about what is upsetting them. Asking the person will not upset them more but may allow the emotions they've been holding in to be released. Voicing painful feelings can help to reduce emotional distress.
Do: Show empathy. Put yourself in your friend's shoes in a nonjudgmental way. Think about how you would feel if you were coping with symptoms of depression and how you would want friends to react. Maintain eye contact when listening, and say things like, “That sounds hard.
The "5 R's of Depression" refer to key stages in the illness's course and treatment: Response (symptom improvement), Remission (few symptoms left), Recovery (sustained remission/symptom-free), Relapse (symptoms return before full recovery), and Recurrence (a new episode after full recovery). Understanding these stages helps track progress, prevent setbacks, and manage expectations in dealing with major depressive disorder, notes Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/two-takes-on-depression/201103/depression-do you-know-all-your-rs and the Eisenberg Family Depression Center.
You can only be given medication after an initial 3-month period in either of the following situations: You consent to taking the medication. A SOAD confirms that you lack capacity. You haven't given consent, but a SOAD confirms that this treatment is appropriate to be given.
The “90-second rule,” introduced by Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, reveals that an emotional surge in the body lasts only about 90 seconds—unless we mentally keep it alive.
An effective method to achieve this is by practising the three R's of Anger Management: Recognise, Reflect, and Respond. This mindful and practical approach doesn't shame you for feeling angry. Instead, it empowers you to pause, explore, and act in ways that support your values, not just your impulses.
To uplift someone, use quotes about resilience, self-worth, and perseverance like Nelson Mandela's "It always seems impossible until it's done," or Maya Angelou's "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it," reminding them their struggles are valid, better times are ahead, and you believe in their ability to overcome challenges, focusing on their inner strength and the importance of taking small steps forward.
It's thought that your chance of getting severe depression may be partly affected by the genes you inherit from your parents.
I turn to you, my most trusted intercessor. Take away this emptiness and the pain of my broken heart. In your compassion, help my tears to lead me to a place of peace in my heart. Too long have I forgotten the goodness of God's world.
Frustration originates from feelings of uncertainty and insecurity which stems from a sense of inability to fulfill needs.
Researchers try to group coping responses rationally, empirically by factor analysis, or through a blend of both techniques. In the early days, Folkman and Lazarus split the coping strategies into four groups, namely problem-focused, emotion-focused, support-seeking, and meaning-making coping.
The 5 second rule means taking a pause — literally just five seconds — before you respond to something emotionally charged. It sounds simple, and in fact, it is that simple. When you get triggered in a fight, instead of immediately saying something you could regret — you stop, count to five, and take a deep breath.
5 of the Hardest Emotions to Control
The 24-hour rule is a simple yet powerful guideline. When you find yourself upset, frustrated, or otherwise reactive, give yourself a full day to pause before acting. Instead of sending an impulsive email, making a confrontational call, or saying something you might regret, step away.
While there are many emotions, psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven universal emotions recognized across cultures: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and contempt, often remembered with the mnemonic "CHAD SurFs," which are fundamental to human experience and have distinct facial expressions. Other models suggest different sets, like those focusing on basic brain circuits (rage, fear, lust, care, grief, play, seeking) or common emotional challenges (joy, anger, anxiety, contemplation, grief, fear, fright).
Teas for stress and anxiety relief
The rule is simple: Commit to doing the task for just five minutes. That's it. Once you get over the initial resistance and begin, even if only briefly, something shifts. Momentum builds, anxiety decreases, and your brain transitions from avoidance to engagement.
What to avoid saying to someone with anxiety?
If the mentally ill person poses a threat to your safety, you should consider cutting ties with them, as a relationship with a history of abuse can jeopardize your well-being. Physical abuse should never be present in a healthy relationship with your spouse or siblings.
Once a patient on a qualifying section has been treated with medication for their mental disorder for 3 months they must then always have a certificate in place to authorise any medication given for the duration of that detention. If they have capacity and consent it's a T2.
5 steps to mental wellbeing
Frustration arises when our expectations don't match reality. Common triggers include unmet personal goals, unexpected obstacles, or misunderstandings in communication. Between work stress, relationship challenges, health issues, or even daily inconveniences like traffic jams, everyone has unique triggers.