Severe depression for years - any hope for recovery?

[Overthinker19]

A person very dear to me has a combination of issues which started with severe anxiety/depression, then escalated and worsened due to meds and various psychiatric treatment. They feel they are cognitively impaired, permanently damaged etc. It’s been going on for over two years and they refuse to get help as they believe the damage is irreversible and there is no hope of recovery. They literally just exist each day, they don’t ‘live’. In bed all day, reading the same negative things, one or two meals. They say they can’t live like this and there is a history of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. Has anyone experienced this/know of a similar story and is there any hope?

There is always hope, although someone suffering from depression is unable to see it. If they want to stay away from meds and psychiatric treatment, would they consider studying depression as a route to understanding why they feel the way they do?

Also, ask them to have a look at this;

thelostconnections.com/

I agree that maybe reading more about depression and how the illness makes you feel like there is no hope, when really there is so much hope. It helps me to read about it. I’ve had depression for years and when I’m having a really bad time, just reading about what my brain is doing and how it’s not me making me feel that way (if that makes sense)? It does help and get me through the really bad days.

The one big thing that helps is to know that depression is a liar and it will tell you that there is no hope, life isn’t worth it, you’re a bad person ….. the list goes on.

I hope this person can get some well deserved help, even if it is just reading a little about it. Baby steps.

Medication numbs those feeling. Can they get medicated?

Hello, thanks for your responses. They don’t believe it’s depression anymore, instead they think it’s all adverse effects and brain damage caused by medicine and other invasive treatment (shock therapy). I can’t know for sure but it seems like a combination of issues. I will try to keep hope.

Sometimes it's worth asking this question "I know you believe there's no hope, but if there was a light switch in the black room of your depression, where would you start looking for it?" It might start them thinking about hope and what recovery might look like.