Hey there, my mother has battled depression before so I was quick to notice when my friend started showing symptoms, he's been feeling constantly down for 2 months. This has happened to him before but I wasn't friends with him at this point. We study abroad and he says that he's just not happy with his life there. He's a guy and would never admit to having depression and laughed it off when I mentioned it. He's told me not to tell anyone how he's feeling and that he trusts that I won't he says that he wants to deal with it himself and wants to get back to the person he was. I don't know what I can do to help as I feel like he's pushing me away. He's isolating himself and anything that I try and do that would normally make him feel happy I feel as if he doesn't appreciate it.. Or it has no affect anymore. I want to be there for him but I don't know if space is what he needs. I don't want to be annoying but I don't want to leave him either. I don't know what to do or where to go from here. I care about him so much and I know he isn't himself right now and I don't want to give up on us but I'm beggining to feel so unwanted
Hi. It's hard to help people who don't want to admit they have a problem. I wouldn't give up on him, try to be as supportive as possible, show him that you care about him, even though I know it's hard to do that when you feel like you're being pushed away or that nothing you can do makes any difference. Was there anything specific that happened that triggered his feelings? How long have you been abroad? Maybe he just needs some time to adjust to the new life? Do you feel he's starting to feel worse? I think it's really nice that you care about him so much and want to help him. I'm wishing you the best of luck and hope he feels better x
Please don't feel unwanted. When depressed we isolate ourselves.
Its important you are there for him even on bad times.
Its friends like you who help and get us through
depression.
Don't push him. Be gentle with him but at times you may need to be strong.
If you want him to have a night out, sit and ask him
for his help and that you would like to go out but cant do it alone. Make him think its his idea and also he is helping you.
Everyone had kindness within themselves and l doi g this will eventually bring him out of himself.
Ate you absolutely sure he has depression, could it be he is missing home, finding work hard, family problems?
Hope this helps a little x
You sound like a really great friend. I would advise just be there for your friend. It is difficult to know what someone with depression needs. Some like to be left alone, but I think we all like to know there is someone there, even if they are in the background. Someone who cares about us. It is a common thing to isolate yourself when you have depression.
I can understand that a young man does not want to admit he feels depressed. Unless he asks for help himself, there is little you can do except let him know you are always there for him. I expect you can find a way to say this without him thinking you will tell someone how he feels.
Often people with depression, myself included, cannot enjoy things they once did. I am sure your friend does not want you to feel unwanted, but he finds it hard to express himself. Like I say just let him know you are there.