FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH SAD participate in your child's treatment • help him/her understand SAD • encourage him/her to get plenty of exercise and to spend time outdoors • spend extra time with your child e.g. watch a movie or enjoy a snack together • be patient • help with homework: assist him/her organising assignments, explain that concentration problems are part of SAD and it will get better again • help him/her to eat right e.g. whole grains, vegetables and fruits • establish a sleep routine • take it seriously A

LAST

WOR

D

dis net ’n ander benadering om ‘n

iemand te ondersteun wat nog nie gereed is om hulp te soek nie.

HOE luister ‘n mens?

ANTIDEPRESSANTE

Alkohol ’n Groot persentasie

van mense wat alkohol misbruik,

ontwikkel simptome van depressie. Dit

mag op die korttermyn (baie kort!) angs- of depressie-

simptome verlig, maar op die langtermyn vererger dit net die probleem. Dit het ’n negatiewe

uitwerking op die “oordra van boodskappe” in die brein en benadeel die werking

van antidepressante.

How does one change your medication? In most cases the person’s condition does not allow him/her to go without antidepressants. The dosage is lowered gradually to a low level. Then the patient starts taking the new medication.

When can the dosage be reduced? The general rule: “the dosage that helps the patient to recover, keeps the patient healthy” - the patient must continue with the dosage which alleviates the depression throughout the treatment period.

Wat gebeur nadat ek die gebruik van anitdepressante gestaak het? Verminder die sterkte geleidelik soos die dokter dit aanbeveel. Die gevaar van ’n volgende aanval is altyd daar. Behou kontak met jou dokter in die eerste weke/maande nadat jy die medikasie gestaak het. As jy enige simptome ervaar wat daarop dui dat die depressie aan die terugkeer is, moet jy dadelik by jou dokter uitkom vir evaluering.

Antidepressants and other medication A combination of antidepressants and other medication can be fatal. Therefore it is vitally important that your doctor knows exactly what prescribed medication you are on, also off the shelf medication.

Hoe lank moet ek medikasie gebruik? Reël 1 depressie word behandel tot ál die simptome opgeklaar het (remissie).

Reël 2 instandhoudingsterapie en die duur daarvan ná ’n • 1ste depressiewe episode: behandeling tot in remissie, plus nog 9

maande • 2de depressiewe episode: behandeling tot in remissie, plus ’n

verdere jaar • 3de episode van depressie behoort behandeling nie weer gestaak te word nie

Let them talk If someone's telling you something difficult or important for them, don't cut over them with a story about yourself, even if it's relevant. Let them finish and try to work out what it means to them.

Don't judge Try to be a friend without saying things that might damage them. Work through whatever they're dealing with and suggest options rather than passing judgement.

Let someone disagree Tell them what you'd do or give them advice, that's great. But that advice may not work, or they might not agree with what you say. Let them. It’s OK.

Ask good questions What are good questions? Open questions that let the speaker go anywhere. Instead of asking “yes/no”-style questions, think about “how does that work” or “tell me about”.

Show them you're listening People will trust you more if they can see you're listening to them. Ask questions about what they're saying, and put it back to them in different words to see if you've gotten it right.

Body language Having open, relaxed body language – facing a person, not too close, and making occasional eye contact – will make whoever's talking to you more comfortable.

Luis

ter

…

det erm

ina tion

Look in the mirror … that’s your competition