Depression can affect a person’s life to unsuspected limits as a result of the severity of this clinical condition. Symptoms of depression include a severe loss of interest in the vast majority of daily activities and highly variable mood states. It is common to hear of people who suffer from living with this type of disease, since the irritability that manifests itself can be harmful in various life circumstances. In this sense, if your mother has depression and makes your life impossible, you probably want to know some strategies to deal with the situation, understand it and help her cope with the symptoms of this mental disorder.
In this Psychology-Online article we will explain What to do if my mother has depression and makes my life impossible.
Why does my mother have depression and it makes me feel bad?
First of all, depression is a mental illness that is characterized by the presence of a unpleasant mood and dysfunctional ideas about life. For this reason, depressive behaviors are not voluntary on the part of the person, but rather respond to particular moments of reluctance that are imposed.
In any case, it is necessary that this diagnosis be established by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical conditions of the person suffering. The DSM-V classifies this condition as major depressive disorder based on its diagnostic criteria.
Below we will detail each of them:
- Depressed mood most of the day.
- Decreased interest or pleasure in almost all activities.
- Loss and/or increase in appetite.
- Alterations in sleep pattern.
- .
- Catastrophic thoughts linked to death.
- Deterioration of work, social and family relationships.
- Duration of two weeks or more.
- The alterations cannot be explained by the ingestion of toxic substances, medications and/or other mental disorders.
From these indicators, depression can be detected. Taking these considerations into account, it is possible to understand that the fact that a mother makes her child feel bad is not a conscious act, but rather responds to the experiences that forged the character she possesses.
How a mother’s depression affects her children
Here’s how a mother’s depression affects her children:
- Low self-esteem: Children who live with a depressed mother may develop a tendency to suffer a low appreciation of their personality.
- School problems: Family experiences affect the mood in a generalized way. For this reason, many boys and girls may have low grades due to loss of concentration or attention, among others. In other areas they can develop behavioral problems and disregard for authorities.
- Suffering from depression: Children who are affected by a mother’s depression who do not receive specialized treatment may suffer from the same clinical picture. In this sense, it is common for children to imitate behaviors, emotions and ways of thinking that they observe in significant people in their family environment.
- lack of desire: Depression disrupts motivation to achieve goals in life. This can be reflected in social apathy, fatigue, inability to have a stable relationship, among others.
Although it is true that there are genes that can be transmitted to children, the processing of the way a mother with depression is can have various nuances. Understanding these qualities can help you locate the consequences that could arise.
How to help my mother get out of depression
Despite the difficulties raised by this diagnosis, it is possible to implement some strategies to mitigate the negative effects on living conditions. In the next points, we will talk about how to help my mother get out of depression:
- Suggest that you undergo psychological therapy: The first step for a person to solve a problem is to recognize it. Due to this circumstance, it is important that those who suffer from depression receive professional assistance to treat the problem they suffer from. A therapeutic device provides the necessary tools to combat mental health disorders.
- Offer a listening space: Sometimes people just want to be heard because they feel misunderstood. Because of this, telling a mother that she is available for whatever she needs allows her to feel welcomed and have a space of support.
- Don’t invalidate feelings: It is not about denying what the person feels, since it could be harmful. On the contrary, trying to understand it is essential for it to accept help.
- Provide help with daily tasks: On some occasions, there may be no will to carry out different occupations. In this sense, it is essential to collaborate at this time and know that emotions may vary in the future.
- Help her decide: Life can be filled with uncertainty in depression. For this reason, it is necessary to act in time and facilitate complex decisions.
- Build an emotional support network: Emotional support from both friends and family is important so that a person can move forward.
- Distract from negative thoughts: When these appear, distraction should be used to prevent them from increasing.
- Reinforce positive actions: every time the person performs an action that favors them, you should bet that it can be repeated in the future.
- Promote a healthy lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy diet and a physical exercise routine helps combat the stress caused by the condition.
- Set realistic goals: People with depression feel that it is impossible to achieve many goals because they feel incapable. Given this, it is preferable to set realistic goals to avoid greater frustrations.
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This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Navas Orozco, W., Vargas Baldares, MJ (2012). Addressing depression: crisis intervention. Cúpula Magazine, 26 (2), 19-35.