Talking to friends, family members and clergy can often give people the support needed when going through life's difficult times. However, for those with clinical depression, such support is no substitute for the care of a health professional. Remember, clinical depression is a serious illness that you cannot treat on your own. This means that it is very important that friends and family help. The best way to express concern when someone is depressed is by guiding the depressed person to seek treatment.
Depression can even cause confusion and withdrawal.
Therefore, it may be helpful for family or friends to accompany the depressed person to the initial health professional's evaluation, to ask questions and note instructions. For weeks, I was always on the verge of tears. I thought I had fallen into a black hole that I couldn't get out if. Even though I was always tired, I kept waking up early in the morning. And, I completely lost my appetite.