Reply to How to approach things with chronically depressed friend

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[quote=Anonymous]Something I read many years ago--a study that found that doing things that involved mental stimulation were helpful for severe depression. I think the study used crossword puzzles, but I could see other kinds of puzzles working. It gave people a confidence boost as well as shifting attention from the depression itself. 
 I have a lifelong history with depression including two stretches, one a year, the other maybe 6-8 months, when it was very, very bad.

I definitely think a dog would make sense for your friend, partly because of the emotional interaction but also the responsibility. A lot of research on parents with mental illness has found that for depression and anxiety adults who have children to be responsible function better than those who do not, because they have to. I understand this could be an iffy decision but from the sound of things I would bet she would rise to the occasion and it wouldn't be a risk for the animal. Or could you get her involved with some garden work? At your house or, if you belong to a church where the congregation pitches in with the landscaping (mine has both a garden where we raise food for food pantries and a lot of flower gardens)? [/quote]

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