When you are feeling overwhelmed......

[Donbean]

What do you say to some one who says this to you?
Who is obviously depressed, acknowledges that they are indeed depressed and has a totally bleak outlook.

Suggest they get some help to feel better so they can cope with life better: antidepressants, exercise, counselling, doing something just for them on a regular basis -there are many options. Feeling overwhelmed generally can be helped by breaking things down into small steps and dealing with them one at a time.
Sorry if this is all too obvious or patronising. If they are going to seek help anyway (or already have) then maybe they just need you to listen and acknowledge that you hear what they are saying and understand how crap it is feeling like that. Sometimes solution seeking isnt what a person is looking for, but then again sometimes it is.

Donbean - from personal experience I think that the best thing you can do is just to listen. I often use the phrase of 'feeling overwhelmed' when I cant think of another way of describing the depression I feel. And at times like that I am not looking for answers from my friends, just an ear. Good luck. You sound like a very caring friend.

Yes, that all makes sense.
TBH thats all i did....listen and ask what they thought the solution is.
Its very very difficult to not try to find answers and solutions with the hope of helping in a practical sense.
However, think i did and said the right things.
God, i am surrounded by people who are depressed at the mo and they all want to come to me for counselling sessions.
Honestly, i have visitors to the house almost daily, my front door isnt locked, every one we know just come in through the door and shouts "hello!", no one knocks. The kettle is on all the time.
We have many many very good and very close friends who we have had for years and it seems that all of them have depression at the moment.
We have always operated on this open house system, its normal for us BUT my God, why is every one so down at the mo?
The person im referring to on this post is just the latest from yesterday, the day before i had another friend and on it goes!
Phew, its draining to say the least!

Maybe you should start charging Donbean either that or not be so good at listening...