How do I help a friend who has stopped caring about everything and everyone?!


Question:

How do I help a friend who has stopped caring about everything and everyone?

She has had quite a few emotional knocks over the last six months; knocked back from a promotion at work, her husband is off work after major surgery, and she has a little boy to look after. She has now admitted she does everything day-to-day by routine; there is no driving force or passion behind her actions. She's just doing things because she has to. She is what I would call "emotionally bankrupt".

Is this normal under the circumstances? Or is she heading for a nervous breakdown?

Is there anything I can do to help her? She is getting support from family and friends to look after her husband and child when she is at work, but that doesn't seem to be enough.

Additional Details

4 weeks ago
Thank you for all your marvellous advice and support. I am overwhelmed.

4 weeks ago
I now have a secondary question, following on from the answers received: How do I show I am there for her without appearing to smother her or appear to be interfering?


Answers:

You've gotten some really good advice and I agree with most. So I just wanted to say that you are such a wonderful person/friend to be concerned about this woman and go so far as to find out exactly how to help her. I'm more or less in the same situation your friend is in (a little worse). And sometimes the hardest part is thinking that nobody cares, that people are only there with you for the good times, but desert you during bad times. A lot of people really are like that and it takes a rough bout to find out who your true friends are. So I know this isn't answering your question, but I wanted to throw in my two cents about this matter. Be there for her no matter what..and do so by actions, not just words. A lot of depressed people hear, "I'm here if you need me." But they're just words. And the last thing a person wants to do when they're depressed is to call others, be a burden on them, etc. So if you actually show your friend that you're there for her instead of just saying it to her, that alone will really boost her morale. I wish there were more people like you in the world. I know I could sure use someone like you :) Bless you and good luck to you and your friend. I hope she feels better soon.




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