Helping a Loved One Who’s Socially Withdrawn and Depressed

Depression can lead to changed behavior, social isolation and rumination for many people. Whether someone is depressed due to a life change, or an incident, or due to other factors, it’s important to have supportive friends and family to get through this time.

If you’re noticing your loved one, be it a child, spouse, friend, or sibling, struggling with symptoms, especially social withdrawal, and isolation, you can help them in different ways. Learn more below:

Try to create space for them to open up to you

You might think it’s a good idea to be upfront and direct about your observations and notice the change in their behavior. However, any sort of confrontation and aggressive approach may cause them to isolate even further.

Instead, be gentle and broach the subject with caution. Try to give them space to open up and talk to you about their struggles, feelings of depression, and emptiness, leading them into being comfortable with you.

Find ways to make their routine easier for them

A great way to help them out without the pressure to interact is to help them with their routine. Offering to go grocery shopping, accompanying them to appointments, and finding ways to spend time while being productive may take the pressure off regular interactions or leisure activities that can feel overwhelming.

Don’t pressure them to socialize or meet people

As a friend or relative, you might think that it’s a great idea for your loved one to socialize and get out more, but for someone who’s depressed and socially withdrawn, that could be a nightmare. Don’t pressure them to socialize or go out, even if you know it’s what would be good for them. Instead, find a low-pressure social activity that they can participate in, including watching a movie together, hanging out at home, or spending time with a few people they’re close to and trust.

Large groups, crowds, and parties can be incredibly overwhelming and may further exacerbate social anxiety and withdrawal.

Watching someone, you love suffer is one of the hardest things to experience. You can help them with their depression and mental health through hypnosis. We offer hypnosis in Pittsford and Rochester, NY, and online sessions conducted by our in-house expert and certified hypnotist, Rekha Shrivastava. Reach out to us to know more.

Not ready to schedule an appointment? Learn how self-hypnosis can start your recovery from PTSD and depression.