How to Help

Recognizing Depression and Anxiety in Others

The best way for you to help your friend or family member is to offer encouragement and emotional support during this hard time.

Give encouragement.

First, you need to help the person get proper diagnosis and treatment. This could mean getting your loved one to see a doctor in the first place. You might even need to make an appointment and go to the doctor with him or her.

Once on treatment, you should encourage the person to follow it as advised and stay on treatment, even after getting better.

Provide support emotionally.

Invite the person for walks, for trips out, to the movies, and to other activities that once gave him or her pleasure. Gently insist if your loved one says no.

Have conversations with him or her and listen carefully. Don't criticize. Instead, try to point out the positive and offer hope.

Don't ignore remarks about suicide. Tell the person's doctor or therapist.

It is important for everyone involved to know that depression and anxiety disorders can affect family and close friends as well.

Don't push the person to do too much too soon. Your loved one needs your company and to be distracted, but too many demands can make him or her feel worse.

Although you might be prepared to do anything and everything to help, don't try to take over your loved one's life. The person might seem overwhelmed, helpless or frustrated, but you can't fix his or her life.

Eventually, with treatment, most people do get better. Keep that in mind. Keep encouraging your friend or family member that, with time and help, he or she will feel better.

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Depression is a serious medical condition, which can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior. Children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants may be at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior within the first few months of treatment. This risk must be balanced with the medical need. Those starting medication or changing doses should be watched closely for suicidal thoughts, worsening of depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. In children and teens, Zoloft is only approved for use in those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. A patient Medication Guide about "Antidepressant Medicines, Depression and Other Serious Mental Illnesses, and Suicidal Thoughts or Actions" is available.

Zoloft is not for everyone. People taking MAOIs or pimozide shouldn't take Zoloft. Concomitant use of Zoloft with NSAIDs or aspirin may be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Side effects may include dry mouth, insomnia, sexual side effects, diarrhea, nausea and sleepiness. In studies, few people were bothered enough by side effects to stop taking Zoloft. Side effects may result from stopping Zoloft particularly when abrupt. You should, however, stop taking Zoloft if you get any of the following symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome, a rare but life-threatening reaction, such as fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, trouble thinking clearly, a change in mental functioning, sleepiness, or change in your breathing, heartbeat and blood pressure.

You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as there is a potential risk to the fetus with Zoloft. Like many antidepressants, Zoloft can be present in breast milk so tell your doctor if you are nursing.

Zoloft is approved to treat depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in adults over age 18. It is also approved for OCD in children and adolescents age 6-17 years.

Zoloft is not habit-forming and is not associated with weight gain. So talk to your doctor about how Zoloft might help you. Zoloft comes in 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg tablets. You and your doctor can discuss a dose for you.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

This product information is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.

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