How to Support a Loved One with Depression Without Burning Out

Watching someone you love struggle with depression can be heartbreaking—and exhausting.

You might feel helpless, confused, or resentful. It’s important to show compassion, but also to protect your own mental health.

How to Help Without Losing Yourself:

  • Listen without fixing: Let them express feelings without offering solutions

  • Educate yourself: Learn about depression’s symptoms and treatments

  • Encourage help: Gently suggest therapy or medical support

  • Set boundaries: Your needs matter too

  • Practice self-care: You can’t pour from an empty cup

Being present doesn’t mean being everything. Support is most sustainable when shared and balanced.

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