-- Posted by michaelb15 at 6:36 am on Nov. 26, 2008 I dont even kno where to begin... ok well both of my parents are dead, and I have been taken in by my friends parents-I pay a small fee for r&b, but its not much...we are verrry close, she and her husband call me their son. the last 4-5 months my stepmom has been getting very depressed- ive talked to her on a few occasions on how I can help her out of the slump, and it seems that nothing really helps... I understand that depression isn't just 1 big problem, but millions of little ones.. so I try to help out -- point out these little problems 1 by 1, as the day goes on hoping it will change the family's lifestyle around.. but it seems at the end of the day, I feel I havnt done anything to help out, because the lifestyle remains. I almost feel like Shary Bobbins off the simpsons.. I dont kno what to do... but I gotta do somthing before she eats her self to death.. ha a heart attack... or some other catostrophic event happens.. like im as close to her as I was my father before he died. and I cant bear the responsibility of 2 parents dieing because of my actions.. or rather ... inactions. -- Posted by audrey820 at 1:33 pm on Dec. 1, 2008 Honestly, you can't fix depression. I know you hate to hear that. It's so hard to see someone you care about struggle so much. But remember that it is not your fault, it's just her personal battle. That said, you can definitely try to help her. You might be surprised by how much the little things matter when you're feeling down. Maybe write her a letter or buy a card. Fill it in with a message to express to her how much you care about her and appreciate what she has done for you. And how much she matters to you and the difference she makes in your life. When feeling down, a lot of people forget that they matter and that there are people who care about them , a lot. So it can help to be reminded of that. In addition, listening can honestly be the best thing that you can do for someone. Make sure she knows that you would be happy to listen to what's going on in her mind. And knows that you want to hear her thoughts and do what you can to help. Suggesting the idea of therapy also may not be a bad idea. I know you want to just fix this for her. But depression isn't something that can be whisked away. And she could really benefit from talking to a professional who is trained to help people in his situation. Or his depression may be caused by a chemical imbalance, which can be treated with medication. That's for a doctor to diagnose though. I hope she gets better soon. :) She's luck to have you there.