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RisingTide
post Mar 23 2018, 03:26 PM

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QUOTE(Redshelf411 @ Mar 23 2018, 03:15 PM)
I'm not sure if this post belongs here but if it doesn't, do move it to relevant section pls..

Bear with me,  long wall of text coming.

So,  I have this friend who has been depressed for a long time, way back before I first met her in university. Back in university, I didn't understand why she was so depressed - 80% of the time she's flaking from meet ups, going to see a movie, go limteh, etc. with our group of friends. At first she gave excuses like she's busy with assignments, no money, or just plain tired. That was when I didn't know her well.

I decided to know her more, since she's always very quiet. The more I know her, the more I feel she has "high frequency" depression. I'm not sure if i should use that term....but it feels that way. Let me explain.

She texted me more often the more she gets comfy with our friendship. From the convos we had together, I learnt how her family was abusive towards her - beats her up, controls her social circle, the course she did was picked out by her parents. Even her grades, if she gets below 85% her parents would make a huge issue out of it. At several points in time back in uni, I remembered how her parents came to uni just to talk to her lecturers on how to make her get 85% for her modules/subjects. And if the parents hear what they don't like, they'd make a huge scene in the staff room. This made my friend feel embarrassed.

Now she's graduated, her parents even chose her jobs for her, even if it's a job she didn't like. She can't say no, at least that's what she told me. If she "openly defies" her parents wishes,  her parents will publicly criticise her in front of her friends and relatives by calling her useless and worthless. Even behind closed doors, she told me how her parents still beat her up. This has affected her self-esteem greatly.

We had long conversations about how her life was before she came uni... Basically Her family have been abusive (physically and mentally) towards her way before she attended uni.

She did say she wants to get away from her abusive, controlling family because the more she stays, the worst her depression gets... I can tell because she can text me very long text messages at 3am regarding how her parents just did shit to her and she wasn't able to sleep. This is beginning to affect me as well because she didn't just text me at 3am at one time but several times already in the last 1 year or so.

I also picked up from our conversations that she has financial issues, so if she were totally get out it will be financially difficult for her. Yes, I've suggested seeking financial aid from her relatives first but even that didn't work out.

So I'm coming here to ask if there are any ways I can help, or refer her somewhere where it can really help. I've suggested Befrienders, but from what encounters I've observed after she consulted she's basically still in her "high frequency" depression.

TIA
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Be there for her when she needs you;
How is she like when you're with her? Does she seem happier?
If it is that, I think its a good sign that you should spend more time with her; as you will be helping her overcoming her depression by helping her to refocus on the positive side of things;
Seems like she has low self-confidence and esteem, which stem from her family upbringing; hence I suggest helping her refocus elsewhere until she could solve her problem herself;

Do bear in mind that she is looking for a friend; nothing more; and only she could solve her own problems; what you could do as a friend is to spend time with her, take her out and make sure she has a good time, this will help boost her confidence and change her perception to look at life more positively;

This happened to a close friend of mine, it helped out for me as I do see improvements in that friend of mine.
RisingTide
post Mar 23 2018, 03:29 PM

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QUOTE(wailam @ Mar 23 2018, 03:22 PM)
well one thing for sure. report to gov or police.
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Police and government won't meddle in domestics affairs; all they could do is to diffuse the situation (eg, fight between family).
They aren't allowed to enforce take action unless the situation could endanger a person's life (or murder);

This post has been edited by RisingTide: Mar 23 2018, 03:48 PM
RisingTide
post Mar 23 2018, 03:52 PM

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QUOTE(Redshelf411 @ Mar 23 2018, 03:32 PM)
I can see she's calmer when she's around me (and a couple other of her friends). For her, she's told me how she finds it very hard to get out of her mental state of mind and her current situation. I wish I have an extra room for her to stay away from her family until she earns enough money to be able to support herself. But given how I travel around a lot it's difficult for me to layan her.
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1. Ask around your circle of friends (or hers) that are willing to sublet or allow her to stay in their spare room for a short while.
2. As for the frequent travelling, all you could do is to communicate with her as often as you can (via text/phone/vid call); help her feel less lonely.

 

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