what can you say to your depressed friend?
959082
Hug him and tell him how special he is to you.  Let him know you are there for him and that you are there to listen any time he needs to talk.  Try to get him to go out and be among other people that's really important; it's so easy to withdraw from others and to close down.  He just needs to know that somebody does care and is willing to listen when he's willing to talk.
713799
Pick out a nice card that you feel suits hers and your personality.  Sign it simply, that's best.  \n\nLike,\n\n"You mean a lot to me, and my prayers and thoughts are with you."\n\nor\n\n"Please know I am here for you in this difficult time."\n\nDon't fo with the "so sorry" thing...it's overdone and we all know how little the usual response like that affects us.  Let your friend know you care.  That is what it is all about.
488541
I really felt like I should respond to you.  If you have\nbeen feeling down for over a year, why are you waiting so\nlong for meds?  Yes, I understand there can be lots of reasons. But, you may have some unresolved issues that you\n1. either are not aware of, or 2. you are stuffing inside.\n\nListen, I too am shy.  I became depressed after losing a\nhusband and a job.  Boom!  I sat on the edge of my bed with\na loaded gun, & was going to end it. But my belief in Jesus\ntold me I really can't do that, so I entered the hospital &\nwas put on meds.  I really needed to talk to someone.  I\nhad to go on meds.  I couldn't handle the crap I was getting\nfrom others.  I went to a local Mental Health facility.  They are probably the best for you, because most of them work on a "sliding fee scale" they have Psychiatrists and also Counselors.  You cannot go on antidepressants without\na Doctor.  Are you sleeping? Waking up too early?  Or are\nyou sleeping too much?  and too late in the day?  I also\nfound it difficult to relay my feelings. Know what I did?\nI kept a journal.  And also, I write poetry.  That really\nhelps you relate what you want to say.  If you don't have\nthe gift of rhyme like I do, then just write down what you\nare feeling in a journal.  I went through 3 Counselors before I found the woman I now see every week.  She is a\nGodsend!!! :)  Listen I was so shy I couldn't even go into\nmy church without someone with me, so I know where you are.\nBut, if you find a good counselor, & believe me if you are\nshy, it is gonna take some time before you are comfortable\nenough to relay your feelings.  But do you see that that\nis because you may be dealing with self-esteem issues.  You\nare worth it!  I believe in you!  Jesus loves you!  You just\nneed a little time in a setting with a counselor, and donot\nlet them put you into a "group" setting - put your foot down\nif your shy, insist on a one on one setting. That will help\nyou.  They are bound by law not to judge you or to reveal\nwhat you say to anyone.  Please! Tell me you will at least\ntry!  You'll find it worth it.  And don't think what you\nwill say is the 1st time they have heard it - nope!  They\nhave heard it all my friend, so its no surprise!  And if you\nfeel like raising your voice, do it!  Get it out!  just \ndon't scream like a goofball!  do it within reason.  You\ncan make yourself known - believe me.  Do you drive??  If\nyou often feel like you can't take this crap anymore - know\nwhat I do?  I get in the car and I scream until I feel a\nrelief!  (on the freeway of course!) I know no one will be\naround so what the heck??  You gotta get the focus off of\n"you"  I'm not saying that's bad, cause it isn't.  Do you\nhave a hobby?  I take pictures. I go to the park and I have\na nice time. I also am making a scrapbook, so I display my\npictures.  Creative Memories.com - go there they are great!\nIf you need some advice, they can hook you up with a great\nconsultant who can invite you to a "crop" where you work on\nyour scrapbook & you have fun!  I do it the 1st Fri. of the\nmonth.  I am doing one on my life right now!  :)\n\nBut, if you still find it difficult, I am told that there\nis a herb called St. John's Wart that is supposed to help in\ndepression.  I don't know.  You can't take a antidepressant\nand this at the same time.  It isn't safe.  This one is the\nmost widely used herb in this area.  I am not aware of any\nothers.  Go to Mayo Clinic.com - they have searches on this\ntype of thing.  Good luck!
478661
Tell him the truth, that even though you have your issues, that you'd like to be there for him and support him in any way you can. If he is a good friend, he will understand and be grateful for all the love and support you have to give!
37981
befriend her..hang out with her..be there when she needs a friend..if you don't want to say your feelings out loud,just show it..
98027
Talk to them and if you are having a hard time doing that, write them a letter or an email to let them know how you feel and what you need, be very sincere and just say anything you want but at the same time don't be mean, rude or disrespectful. Let us know how things work out for you.
818828
I, too have drifted away from friends I know since childhood. The best thing to do is have a peer mediation. Sounds totally, dorky, right?  Talk to her privately, so no one get embarrassed and tell her your honest feelings. i know it may be hard at first, but trust me, once you get going, it'll be easier. Set up some rules, like no interruptions, and let her talk. Tell her she's been hurting you, and that she's too bossy! don't raise your voice or tell her you hate her though. =P LET HER TALK TOO! Maybe she's been going through something. when my friends and I did this, I let them talk also. WE all ended on the floor bawling, but it was GOOD. I felt...RELIEVED. My friends and I are A LOT happier, and now, we know to talk BEFORE we blow up. Let her say what she needs too, but IF SHE starts getting aggressive, or rude-WALK AWAY. You don't deserve that. Maybe your friendship can be salvaged, most likely no, but at least you won't end the friendship on bad terms. Tell her that this is what's best for both of you, and you know longer desire her he company. Be the better person and walk away if things get ugly.\nGod bless, hun!
807232
Be mature, but also be fun. When you see she's sad, go ask her whats wrong. Always try to help her out. When she's being silly, be silly with her, when she's being serious, be serious with her. Make your moods follow hers so she see's you can be whatever u want her to be. Spend some time with her, and when you get to know her, treat her lyk you'd treat any other friend.
1145218
Those aren't real friends. Real friends are there for you through thick and thin, and they would never dare make fun of such serious things as you have described. Don't listen to their laughs and teasing. They are either really big jerks or they are just to juvenile to understand the severity of your problems. Meanwhile, I hope you've gotten help for your problems, and if not, I urge you to because you don't have to suffer with depression...it can be treated. Not sure about the other 2 you listed, but I know there are professionals out there who can help you. It's time you made new friends. Real friends who aren't going to ditch you when the going gets tough. Hang in there!
920550
If she brings it up than yeah! ask her questions.  this is probably the best time to support your friend, and she needs your help right now to be there for her if she needs someone to talk to.  Don't be over the top with it, just say how happy you are that she's seeking help and that you're there for her every step of the way.
152588
talk to her, tell her how you feel.
996850
People with BP disorder and with depression have higher than normal rates of suicide. Some people are better able to cope with their disorder, such as when they are down, but a stressful event like a breakup can trigger feelings of despair and helplessness, even suicide.\n\nYou should definitely be there for your friend and try to help them out by telling them that things will get better. But you have to keep in mind that with a disorder like BP, your friend should take their medication, and the medication may be the only effective way to get them back on track. Try to talk to them and help them understand why it is important to take the meds, but don't say "Take the meds so you don't go suicidal." Just offer reassuring words and help them understand why the meds are important.  People with BP aren't "psycho" so you don't have to pretend with them. Just be honest but reassuring.
567236
Talk to her and give her information on depression... Google the word depression and print up some articles.\n\n\nhttp://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=SUNA,SUNA:2006-11,SUNA:en&q=depression
793183
Just sit them down and as nicely as possible tell them what you want to say. I mean, honesty is the best policy, but if you still care about the person you can try and cushion the blow by saying something like, " I don't feel like I once did about you, things have changed, I'm sorry I don't love you anymore" ect ect. If they ask why I guess you could tell them and get into that if you really want too and have the energy for it. Basically, I guess what would help is if you imagine yourself in the other person's shoes and think about how you would want them to tell you the same thing.
982572
Ask your friend to help you.
1154309
Sometimes friends just need some space. Nothing is meant by it. You could try calling her or writing saying lets make plans for this Saturday to ......& think of something fun for you 2 to do. Have a positive attitude about things. Sometimes if you're down & depressed all the time that could affect friends coming around. It just gets them depressed & that's not fun so work on being positive not just for her but for you. Make yourself think positive, happy thoughts. God bless.
653283
I hope you know your friend well.  Some of us appreciate a friend who is there without being asked.  Some of us prefer to be left alone.\n\nDon't give me that pap about his being in a better place or that he is an angel now.  That doesn't help.  (Been there...)\n\nIt would be nice if three months down the road someone called just to talk.  Don't ask how am I doing...just talk.  Ask if I want to go out for a bite to eat.  Don't bring up the loss unless I start talking about it.  Don't tell me, "You'll feel better if you talk about it."  You don't have a clue.\n\nNo one can know how a mother feels when she loses a child, so don't act like a TV educated psychologist.  Just be there.