10 Things to Say (and 10 Not to Say) to Someone With Depression
I just found this really simple little slide show and it's absoloutely perfect....

I have heard all the "10 things not to say" from really well meaning people and they all make you feel so much worse even though they genuinely are trying to help and think they're saying the right thing.

On the flip side I've heard most of the 10 things to say and it means so much and is so reassuring to hear any variant of any one of them.

This isn't specifically about eating disorders as depression and an eating disorder are seperate things although they tend to interplay with one another, but many people with eating disorders are also suffering from depression (note depression is different from being a bit down sometimes or having a rough patch.. that's well illustrated in that slide show too) and I thought might be helpful to people here to read.

I decided to send it to my friend.He says everything mentioned there but not the "what to say" things.
Thank you.

I hope it helps him understand. My auntie is one that says all those things not to say too (including "have you tried herbal teas?")... and she means well, she really does it's just a case of not being able to see it from the right perspective... if you're feeling a bit down you see actually telling someone to pull themseleves together or have a calming cup of herbal tea actually is good advice but people struggle to understand what depression is and how it's different...
Like my mum is very good at saying the right things... but then she's suffered from major depression so she "gets" it.
Most people who haven't been through it just need it explaining really so they can understand. I used to think it was malice on their behalf but it's just ignorance.

Anyway off on a little tangent there. I'm glad I could help in someway. Let us know how it goes

I couldn't get the 10 things not to say to appear? Is it a seperate link? Or am I missing something?

Good article though. I'm tempted to send it to my mum....
(my dad has depression himself and so is maybe more clued up. plus another reason for my mum to be more aware, as he doesn't talk much to explain himself)

The 10 things not to say are beneath each thing to say eg in the first one it says:

Ah! I could not get the individual links to open, only the view all list of the point of each one. So I haven't read the whole blurb with each one. not sure if it's my browser or my security settings or what.

You click on one then press next on the top at the right.. beyond that yeah I'm not sure what's wrong.

I know lots of people who are that way too.The major problem with my friend is that he thinks he knows everything(one of his advices:meditation's the only key to success) and I sent him something like that a long time ago-he laughed back then.Yep,it was funny for him.Gosh,I don't understand men.

Wow. Do people actually say some of that shit? I have had 2 or 3 said to me but some of those are horrible! I guess another reason why I don't talk to many people about it.

It's a little sad that there are people who actually have to be told not to say those things.

The 'What not to Say' list reminds me of some fathers of friends when I was growing back. They were the ones who would say when someone fell or was injured in sports to 'get up and shake it off.'. I wish I could shake off my depression but it doesn't work that way.

I totally agree!
I think it's pretty much obvious that if you care then you most likely say those things, especially "You're not alone in this"
I also think that I wouldn't ever like to hear "Do you want a hug?".

@Farley, can I just say I love your name, and until now have only ever heard of one person named Farley. I wanted to name my daughter Farley but my partner didnt so we went with marley instead.