There’s a little-known and surprising way to support someone who is depressed. Do nothing. Yes, you read that right.

I should know. I’ve been depressed many times. I’ve been mildly depressed. I’ve been severely depressed. I’ve been suicidally depressed, and everything in between, many times.

On and off, over the past few months, I’ve been depressed.

As much as friends have problem-solved with me, empathized with me, and tried to figure things out with me, one of the most helpful things they’ve done is keep me company—sitting beside me, containing, not fixing. It’s not a glamorous way to support someone. And it’s certainly not a very strenuous way to support someone. But for me, often, it’s all I need.

Sometimes I feel so horrible in my own skin that it’s hard for me to understand why anyone would want to be around me. Watching a movie beside someone or going for a hike and picking mushrooms with friends—like I did today—and saying nothing about the fact that I’m depressed—talking nothing about my feelings, talking nothing about how I don’t know if I’m going to feel better—is exactly what I need.

It helps me get into my body. It helps me stay out of my head. And it........

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