The Therapist Diaries

 Hello and welcome back to the Therapist Diaries,  In the last post we were discussing the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder- a depressive disorder that often impacts people most during the winter months. Today, I thought we’d go a step forward and talk about some real life, practical things we can do if someone we know is struggling with depression or generalized negative thoughts, no matter what time of year. Firstly, how do you recognize depressive symptoms if your loved one doesn’t tell you anything? Remember, even if you create a safe environment for people to share their struggles with you, no one is required to tell you anything about their mental health, that doesn’t mean you have to read minds to be helpful. Sometimes, the people we love the most are struggling quietly, without ever saying a word.  When depression creeps in, it can make even the simplest moments feel heavy, distant, and unfamiliar, it's important to know that depression  doesn’t alwa...