How To Help Someone With Anxiety or Depression

Maybe you’re feeling great, but you’ve got a sister or a boss or a spouse who’s feeling depressed or anxious or going through a difficult time mentally. Here’s what you can do to help, even if you’re not a mental health professional.

Hey there,

I'm Neil and I spend a ton of time thinking, writing, podcasting, and speaking about living intentionally. I'm the New York Times bestselling author of six books including The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation. I've been lucky to speak at places like TED, SXSW, and Google. And I host a huge passion project called the 3 Books podcast.

Want to read more of my stuff?

Want to check out my podcast?

Want to learn about my live events?

Want my monthly book recos?

Want my articles on intentional living?

I am also on the following drugs:

Lastly, thanks so much for watching this vid.

👊,

Neil

[mateobornico]

Wow! My sister is going through a tough time (she has a tendency of plunging into depressive episodes) and I spent over an hour with her in the phone. Now I know that what I was doing was the right thing to do, allowing her to talk though it. “Tell me more” is now one more tool in my emotional intelligence toolbox! Thanks Neil!

[Raul-jedd]

I met this guy that suffers from anxiety and I feel like he is a cool guy and I am trying to help him out i feel like he deserves the help from a upcoming friend more than a doctor

[annisar.s.]

sometimes they want to tell their thought when I have no energy to deal with them, and all I did is just avoid the conversation and it left me with the feeling of guilt.

[njfworld]

This is good stuff, Neil. Even more important now with the COVID blues hitting people hard.

[maureenbray]

Such simple but such powerful advice. Thank you 😊

[chantellevanderwatt]

It's complete hell. It's a daily battle.
Sometimes I feel so disconnected from the world.I dont even know how normal feels like.

[christinapearl]

Oh thank god, good advice. I’m not that old, I don’t have much experience, but I want to help.

[quietcorner]

Listen and silent use the same letters! Seriously, I am a textbook of what not to do. My wife has anxiety and often leads her to be aggressive. I am patient for a while but I eventually lose it and start saying things back. It doesn't help that I have MS.

[huyenvu]

Definitely love your video. I’m finding my best way to support my crush, thank you for this

[marchiebelano]

Good Day sir Niel.
I'm so worried because my girlfriend. She's having hard time falling asleep and the small things to her is really a big deal. So what i did is i tried to communicate with her and the listen to his stories all night long and then when i fall asleep early she really got mad. I hope you can help me do this sir Niel thank you and always God bless 😊

[br]

How can I tell my dad “tell me more” if he’s always like stfu and goes back to controlling his breathing. He doesn’t talk about it. Then I get upset and I literally feel like leaving. Like idk what the fuck else to do.

[natejones]

I have a friend who is incredibly busy, is still a minor, can't afford therapy, and their family won't accept that they're anything more than 'a moody teenager' and I'm doing everything I can to help. do you have any suggestions for a situation like this? I think I'm the only person in their life who knows how bad it is.

[davidmuren]

When you cant afford any kind of therapy or help...

[anujshrestha]

My girlfriend has some of these but she doesn't open up and I don't know why. She never opens up about what she's feeling and I think she wishes me to understand them and i don't know how to deal with this. Can someone help me? She's really gonna leave me if I'm like this.

[christophkaiser]

Such simple and great advice. God gave us two ears and one mouth.

[themadspecies]

I have one friend who is a good He loves to make others But at the end of the day he wants to give up on his He always says that if he lose someday he'll lose I worried about him. He is going through a major depression and anxiety stage. He is going through from this condition after his last breakup which happen at the begining of the can i help him Please tell me. I want him to be okay.

[ahdalb]

God bless you for sharing this with us🙏🏽 now I can really help my friend.

[shivamiltiwari]

The problem is that we dont find experts or specialists easily in remote areas ... and dealing with depression, diagnosis and treatment is not for unexperienced psychologists or psychiatrist ..

[maxico]

My father had depression and I found my brother has anxiety… idk what to do nether do my parents he doesn’t want to go school, he hardly go out with me and my parents… my father got him a book to read on how to deal with anxiety… I’m not sure if he’s even reading it bc he’s always in his games..

[mockingjaye]

I feel so helpless when my 24 year old is calling me weekly because of her anxiety and not being able to connect with others. I don't know what to do. It's been years, and nothing is working.