For this week’s episode of Agony Aunties, a listener asks an important question: how can they be happy when someone in their family is deeply depressed? And so, to answer this, we’re not going to discuss what the listener can do to fix their family member’s problems, even though that might be the urge that arises in us instantly. Instead, we’ll talk about ideas of codependency, and highlight the importance of not anchoring our emotional wellbeing on the state of other’s. Finding ways to take care of ourselves is very important, so that we can be better resourced. We’re not going to help our depressed family member by getting depressed as well, and it can be very easy to catch the emotions of others. So, please make sure that you’re finding ways to find your own happiness as well.
Resources mentioned:
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - https://www.thecalmzone.net
Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk
Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/
Papyrus - https://www.papyrus-uk.org
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BONUS: Julia and her daughters discuss Charles Spencer's interview
Charles Spencer on speaking out about his experience of child sexual and physical abuse
Agony Aunties: Navigating life's unexpected turns
Tom Shakespeare on shattering stereotypes and redefining disability
Agony Aunties: Only children and teen friendships
Henrietta Copeland on the silent grief of childlessness
Agony Aunties: The complexities of parenting adult children
Annabel Croft on navigating the shock of a sudden diagnosis
Agony Aunties: Love, trust and navigating the rollercoaster
Josiah Hartley on depression as an illness and not a personal failure
Agony Aunties: Grief in relationships
Julia Bradbury on overcoming challenges with positivity and purpose
Agony Aunties: Dealing with a narcissist
Agony Aunties: Mastering boundaries
Agony Aunties: Sibling struggles
Agony Aunties: Navigating divorce and affairs
BONUS: How do I know when it's time to end therapy?
BONUS: How can therapy help me?
BONUS: A guide to navigating Christmas
Alain de Botton’s insights on psychotherapy, love and navigating Christmas
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