When depression is contagious at home
The depression It is one of the worst situations that a person can go through. A constant feeling of sadness that seems to have no end and that makes those who experience these feelings are not able to enjoy all that is good around him. In fact, the patients of this disorder are not the only ones who suffer its consequences, but all those who surround it.
See another person go through a depression Makes sadness a general tonic for the whole family. In fact, according to a new study University College of London, those who suffer from this disease can spread it to those around them. A situation with which care must be taken, especially when it can be transmitted from father to son.
Family intervention
The experts of the section of Psychiatry of the University College from London based their study on an analysis of other works that took into account the characteristics of several families in the United Kingdom. Especially wanted to check if the presence of depression in one of the parents was related in some way to that one of his children also suffered.
Other studies have found that in cases where the mother suffers from depression, adolescent children also manifest these symptom. This is because the maternal bond is stronger for the time a woman spends with the children during the upbringing. But for the first time, this research has found a signal that the same process happens with parents.
"We found that the bond between one parent and the depression of a teenager is not related to the father's sex," he explains. Gemma Lewis, principal author of this study. The researcher points out that these findings could lead to a revision in the therapies against depression, which should have a more familiar approach since, as shown in this study, when someone at home suffers from it, it is not the only one.
In addition, Lewis also points out that in the case of parents it is more difficult for them to accept treatment for depression. The researcher points out that the traditional role of man within the family makes him want to hide his feelings and not accept help. This ends up leading to an expansion of the disease at home that ends up affecting others in the home.
Helping with the family
Depression is not the same as having a bad day, it is a disease that adds to the person in a constant sadness that seems to have no end. While it is important to see a professional for help, family members of this person can contribute to to get better your situation as follows:
- Understand that depression is a disease. The person is not sad simply, he goes through a disorder that makes him have changes in attitude that he can not handle and will.
- Do not reinforce your negative thoughts. The constant feeling of sadness makes the patient of depression can not have another idea that is not negative, however family members should prevent this person from turning them around.
- Distract the mind. The person with depression is socially ostracized, so their relatives should contribute to distract the mind. Activities like a walk, crafts and other practices that do not require effort are a good idea.
- Do not get angry with the patient. The person with depression does not control their actions, so their negative responses to positive reinforcements are attempted with it. Do not get angry with them or accuse them of not wanting to improve, it's not their intention.
Damián Montero
