When a Loved One Experiences Significant Depression

If you've ever watched a loved one endure the pain of depression, you can understand the anxiety, fear and heartache author and comedian Kristina Kuzmic experienced when her son developed depression. Eventually, his mental health deteriorated to the point that she felt compelled to have her son committed to inpatient care. In her recent book, "I Can Fix This" she shares their journey with transparency, the insights she gained along the way, and the steps that helped bring her son to the much healthy place in which he now finds himself. This episode has great value for parents with depressed teenagers but also for anyone trying to love someone well who has depression. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)

Resource references: I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child

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Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. What are some assumptions you've made regarding your loved one's struggle?
3. How might setting aside those assumptions increase your ability to be present for them?
4. How might viewing your loved one's behavior as communication of a need and expression of pain improve your interactions?
5. What might it look like to show up for your loved one?
6. In what ways do you practice healthy self-care in challenging, frightening, and painful seasons?
7. Who might you be able to reach out to for help and support as you strive to love your loved one well?
8. What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?

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