nowhere to turn for help. They may find themselves reading books on depression and other resources, but still feel lost as to what to do. This is where DEP-ANON can offer assistance. It is a fellowship of persons who come together to share their stories and offer support to one another in the process. Their issues may be different from those suffering from depression, but they are just as valid.”
The DEP-ANON FAMILY GROUP MANUAL
the same feelings as the depressed! If you checked off more than five of the items below, you might consider the DEP-ANON Family Group.
When family members were asked to prioritize, describe and list which feelings they experienced most often and most intensely, the following are those which they documented: 1) feeling overwhelmed and burdened by a family member’s depression. 2) feeling restricted around the depressed, feelings of something similar to the to the expression of walking on eggshells. 3) Feelings of helplessness. 4) Anxiety about the situation and not knowing what to do about the feelings they were experiencing. 5) Feeling emotionally drained. 6) Feeling inadequate, faced with a loved one’s immobility and lack of motivation. 7) Feeling anger and frustration at the depressed. 8) Being an enabler. 9) Feeling that one was living an unproductive life as one was stymied by the depressed unproductive depression. 10) Having feelings of irritability and impatience, 11) Feeling inadequate. 12) Unhappy. 13) Feeling betrayed in retirement by spouses late life depression. 14) Indecisive and lacking confidence in themselves.
Are you surprised to learn that the depressed experience the same emotions? You have more in common than you thought!
Quote from the DEP-NON FAMILY GROUP brochure.
“In my field of counseling, I always tried to get the family of the depressed person into counseling too, so that I might help the person see how their depression was affecting everyone in the family, including the children. The spouse, if the depressed person was married, always seemed relieved that someone finally could see their viewpoint and understand how they felt and the pain that they were experiencing. Many times, they would tell how their spouse would never do anything and always put things off until they felt better. But they never feel better! I found much pain and anger and frustration in these relationships, as the spouse was beside herself or himself concerning what to do for their sad partner. They were not only becoming depressed themselves, but they were also feeling guilty about their anger at someone who was supposed to be sick?”
SOURCES: Copyright (c) Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition. (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Page 81,
Copyright(c) I’ll do it when I feel better (2016) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.
Copyright(c) Dep-Anon Family Group Manual(2008) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.
NOTE: In my effort to help the whole family unit, I initiated a family Dep-Anon Family Group just like Al-Anon. Al-Anon is there for friends and family of the Alcoholic and helps them to have help in understanding the best ways to help the alcoholic.
There were two persons, both family members of a depressed person, who collaborated and wrote their own manual, based on the 12 Step model, for those others like themselves who also were dealing with a depressed family member or friend. It was an eye-opener to discover that these two persons had some of the same feelings which their family member was also experiencing. They were feeling anger, frustration and became more isolated the deeper the depression of their loved one.
What I learned from them, and the feelings they shared, made it possible for them to write their own manual specifically geared and directed to the family and friend of a depressed person.