Depressed people, and those most at risk for depression, tend to view other people negatively. Do any of the following statements describe you? From Depression Is Contagious by Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.

Even people who maintain an optimistic appraisal of the benefits of antidepressant medications must acknowledge that no amount of medication can teach social skills. No amount of medication can teach someone to be a better or more empathetic listener or better source of emotional support for another person. No amount of medication can help someone develop friendships or a support group. No amount of medication can help isolated people who are wary of others become more approachable or skilled in their interactions. Simply put, drugs cannot solve the problems that lead many people into the pain and despair of loneliness and depression.

Depressed people, and those most at risk for depression, tend to view other people negatively. Do any of the following statements describe you?

• I am frequently hurt by other people.
• I am lonely or more socially isolated than I’d like to be.
• I can’t muster the energy it takes to be with others, call a friend or even just answer the phone.
• I generally avoid others whenever possible.
• I have a hard time developing and maintaining healthy relationships.
• I’m often angry at people.
• I am often disappointed by other people.
• I sometimes think people who are happy must be either naïve or stupid.

All the negative thoughts, feelings, and perceptions about other people you may have right now don’t just work against them, they work against you. By using the practical tools in Depression Is Contagious, however, you can change how you relate to others and how you relate to yourself. The positive psychology of bringing forth your best self through your relations with others is a clear path to feeling better. The research makes clear that people who recover from depression have actively learned a variety of new skills that can help them better build the lives they want.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., author of Depression Is Contagious (Copyright © 2009 by Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D.), is a clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert who lectures widely on depression, psychotherapy, and clinical hypnosis. He is the author of ten books, including Breaking the Patterns of Depression, Hand-Me-Down Blues, and Suggestions of Abuse. He lives with his wife, Diane, in Fallbrook, California.

MORE ARTICLES BY THE AUTHOR

• Are Your Expectations Out of Line With Reality?
• Depression Is Contagious
• The Social Lives of Depressed People

LEARN MORE

• Read the Introduction to Depression Is Contagious: How the Most Common Mood Disorder Is Spreading Around the World and How to Stop It
• Watch a video with the author