Depression can affect anyone. They can be young, old, rich, poor, black, white, or yellow. All of them need help. You can be that help for a loved one or a friend.

Depression has many signs and symptoms. Many of those same symptoms can be attributed to other conditions. A missed diagnosis of depression can be devastating. Grieving relatives have stood at funerals for loved ones and wondered why they didn’t see their depression-related death coming.

Don’t feel helpless. You can help. Learn the signs and symptoms of depression. There are tons of websites and books available to help you out.

When someone you love is acting differently than usual, check it out. You don’t have to follow them everywhere or hold a magnifying glass to their face, but you can be on your guard to see what comes of it.

Truthfully, they can be reacting to a number of things:

• Bad day
• Relationship breakup
• Job loss
• Divorce (them or parents)
• Other illness diagnosis

Depression is more than feeling sad or bad for a week. It is a condition that can affect you physically as well. Sufferers have trouble getting out of bed. They may cry spontaneously for seemingly no reason. There could also be unexplained aches and pains that crop up from nowhere.

Talk to this person. Listen to what is going on with them and find out if you can help. They, themselves, may be worried that they could be depressed.

Where do you go from there? Here are some suggestions.

1. Set up an appointment for them to see their doctor. Go with them if they don’t want to go alone.
2. Discuss your concerns with a help line. They can guide you to additional resources for your friend or relative.
3. Offer your trust and support to them.

As a person close to a suspected depression sufferer you have the keenest eyes to detect any changes in their behavior. Don’t doubt your suspicions; instead, get help.