Is Depression Contagious?

Technically speaking, depression isn't contagious like the cold. However, there are some people who tend to pick up on the emotions of those around them, and they would have a good chance of getting depressed themselves if they spent a lot of time with a depressed person. I've found that some depressed people prefer for others to try to bring them out of it, while others prefer to be left alone. It's sometimes hard to watch someone go through depression, but just letting them know that you are there for them if they need/want your help is good. For serious cases of depression, they may need professional help instead.

Yes depression is contagious. A person's negative spirit can indeed spread to you. Do not surround yourself with miserable people for you will soon start becoming like them. It is much better to surround one self with positive people who would rather laugh than complain. You have people who constantly complain about everything from their relationships to money....... i mean everything! Who wants to be around a person like that? We all have our problems but to complain about them on a daily basis is uneccessary.

Yes depression is contagious for negative thinking people but not for positive persons. Actually when a person is depressed then he sends negative energy around and those who are susceptible attract this negative energy, where as positive persons are able to radiate positive vibes and reduce the agony of depressed persons. I prefer to give positive vibes to depressed person instead of becoming depressed with him.

Depression is not contagious Treatment is by medication but a placebo such as a vitamen has a 50% of success without the side effects. alsotalkto people regularly and neaten up your appearance set goal every hour and day

HA! well i would likely be depressed with them since im depressed a lot anyway. my family sometimes say i depress them so that they dont call as much as they would. so, recently i've been trying to keep from doing that.

I do not know if it is contagious, maybe. But imagine that you are close to someone that just pass bad and sad news all the time. I think you would feel bad and sad. I just suround myself of happy people is a good medicine.

In a sence. I feel that if you surround yourself with people who generally subscribe to a negative point of view, you will take on this perspective. If all you see is doom and gloom, you will run the risk of developing some forms of reactive depression. However, this is simply one type of depression and can just as easily develop as a result of a deficiency within the synaptic cleft whereby the reuptake of spent serotonin is impeded blessed be

It isn't really contagious but if you are around someone who is depressed a lot, you can actually feel depressed after being with them. If someone is depressed about something, I am usually a good shoulder. I don't mind listening and offering up some sympathy and hugs and try to comfort them. If someone is chronically depressed and down in the dumps then I tend to avoid those people. They need professional help and they will drag you down if you spend too much time with them.

I don't think so. Theres a diffrence between feeling down and having depression. People of course can develop depression over time from being around the wrong situations or people or genetics.

I think that depression is contagious as it spreads negative vibes around and it just kinda creeeps into u as well.There are people who likes to be consoled while people like to be left alone.In either ways if u wnt to be consoled but dont really want to listen than its kinda upsetting as u tried n then u tend to get emotional into it.In otehr case when the person wants to b left alone, its the similar case..u cant talk to him/her n then the silence just depresses u.For me yes depression is contagious.

I don't think depression is like a cold in that you can catch it. But I do believe, if you are not an emotionally stable person, depression can rub off on you. Doctors do say it is contagious, and if one member of a family has it, the others can have it as well. Here is what experts said in an ABC article - "Is Depression Contagious": Spouses are at high risk for depression when one party has a clinical disorder like depression or bipolar disorder, because they spend a large amount of time with them and are emotionally invested in their well-being. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/Story?id=4539059&page=1 I've never really been around anyone who was depressed that I could tell. But it has to bother anyone who has a family member that is depressed. Worrying by a family member even bothers me, and I'm not even one to worry.

hi friend,i think the depression can be contagious to other poeple.if my friend is depressed,i will also feel depressed with him,but the other side,when i though i were him,i will encourage him a lot with comfortable words.Because i know what he is depressed on.every time my friends are depresed like this, i will make them happy later in a while. good luck. have a good day.

Hearing this term,i feel pretty sorrowful.Depression is a psychological problem.What we should do to ruduce the possibility of depression so that we help our friends and relatives go through the shadows of the depression.In my opinion,depression is contagious.when we always get along with a depressed person,we should be depressed unawares.

Yes it is..... the best way to get out the depression is go away to people depressed.... pay attention to the people you used to meet... meet just funny people and you will be funny... meet creative people and you will be creative, meet depressed people and you will be depressed!

all of those kinds of negative feelings are contagious like the plague!! you can one of two things for people who are depressed, either help them out of their funk, or stay away from them. the best thing and only think you can do is surrending them with your warm and positive presence. if that is not enough for them, then i recommend staying aways

hi terrilee no it is not but beng around somone who is 'depressed can make you feel uncomfortable and ill at ease. Try to be a positive thinker and eliminate all negative thoughts, look at the bright sideof things, and count your blessings as we all have them whether we think so or not. Encourage a depressed person by being cheerful and positive and show them that they do have blessings and help them count those blessings too.

i don't think it's contagious but i think you can get depressed when u stay around someone who is constantly down. i do try to encourage the best i can but aot of it deo\pends on the individual. just got to pull up them boots & help yourself to.

Well I read somewhere that depression like colds or fule is a highly contagious and can be transmitted socially. A depressed individual can have his depression jumps to members of his family or to friends around him and those people are often without their awareness. I believe negative emotion such as depression is the same as happy emotion, you can have them transferred to people around you. But I strongly believe though that awareness and alertness is the key to avoid being infected with the negative emotions from anyone. Being always on the lookout for signs of depression in anyone you are always associated with. Once you spot depression in anyone, then do help the individual get out of it and contain the risk to you and to others. When somebody in the household or any your firend. You must develop the skills of positive thinking and positive talking in the household and among your friends When you here anyone of them consistently expressing disappointment, instead of joining him in his negative thoughts, cheer him up by pointing on the positive site of the issue is is depressed about. Always insist on putting the conversation with him turn to a healthy positive discussions. Be generous in sharing your positive experiences. Be sincere and diligent in helping him to solve whatever is bothering him and always assure him of solutions and positive outcome Check other people's well-being always and put up a sense of connectedness which is a major buffer against depression at every stage of life. Paying as much attention to every one's feelings is one of the best protections you can use to combat depression in the family or circle of friends. As for me, I always make it a point to be of happy disposition every day in whatever circumstance. I believe this kind of feeling is contagious and I want this virus to be stronger than the virus of any of my depressed friends or family.

That again is another great discussion you have posted terilee. I will tell you that I have clinical depression and have had it for a number of years. I have only been properly diagnosed by a therapist and given medication 1 year ago. My friends used to say that I would "bring them down" that my negativity would "wear off on them" so they didn't want to talk to me. I guess they really thought the could "catch" it. As ridiculous as this is they apparently believed it. So I distanced myself, got some help, changed my life got rid of some friends, made new ones and now I'm feeling better and that is the short of my story. If anyone would like to discuss depression on a more lengthy basis please feel free to friend me and pm me.

Depression is not contagious per se; however, people's moods can affect the moods of those around them.