Great question! Because I am not a licensed forensic counselor, I called Beverly Womack, LCSW, LMFT, LCDC, ( a Certified Forensic Counselor by the American College of Forensic Counselors ), for some guidance. After 35 years of counseling separating and divorcing clients, she had several suggestions.
Suggestion 1: Understand that divorce is incredibly hard on children and is hard beyond belief on adults. I cannot say what her clients say to Beverly, but my clients tell me that a divorce changes everything, including deeply held convictions about their religion, their fundamental understanding of family values, their core beliefs, and that even the colors in the sky change. These changes are hard.
Suggestion 2: Understand that depression is an emotional response to the suffering in a separation and divorce. There are other stresses related to the separation or divorce. Many separations and divorces start with stresses from unpaid bills, a job loss, an accident or illness. Depression is not something a person asks for, or volunteers for, or earns. It is exponentially worse than any scary dream you have ever had. Without professional help, depression can be a continuing, living nightmare.
Suggestion 3: Get the depressed person to a licensed mental health worker. Within driving distance of your residence, there are licensed psychologists, licensed social workers and licensed counselors who can defeat depression. If medicines are needed, there are physicians with specialties in mental health, called psychiatrists, who may prescribe medicines for depression. You do not have to remember the names of these professionals to know the deal.
The deal is that depression can be defeated. You may not get much help from a doctor for your bad cold, but depression is highly treatable.
Additional resources beyond this blog, include:
WebMD.com for useful information,
Depression for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, Inc.)
look at http://www.womackcounseling.com,
you might talk to someone who actually knows about divorce and depression: Beverly Womack, 903-535-7290.
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