u/Ok-Cancel6587

Howdy

Background: I \[F26\] have a best friend \[F\] of 20 years with chronic depression. We have a very open honest and trustworthy friendship. She has had her better moments and also her down bad momets, and as chronic depression goes, it has never really gone away, really just managing it. Because of our tight relationship she is as open as it gets with her symptoms, to which I always try to thank her for expressing and sharing with me. This last year has been really bad, I think the worst it has ever been. I am familiar with the feelings of depression, but I know what I have experienced is not the same nor on the same level of what she is experiencing.

What are some things I could do that could potentially help with her day to day or continuing the expression that she has a safe human ect? I am very much aware I cant "change" things, but I would love some advice from those who have experienced such a difficulty.

Sincerely,

A desperately worried friend.

This might be a bit of an odd request, but could I simply just sit and chat with a nun or sister?

I ask this because I have lost all of my old wise women in my life. I was raised partially by my grandmother and she passed in my teens, but thankfully I was blessed to be around my husband's great grandmother. She was an old Italian catholic, when I say old, I mean she died at 102. She was 100% mentally there until a few weeks before she passed. She was kind of outlet for life questions because she quite literally had seen it all. She was very blunt and honest but also loving. I am not catholic or religious in any regard, but I value amd respect those who are. I grew up in the Bible belt and specifically my area is very catholic heavy. Im not really looking for religious advice or anything, but just an old wise lady to tell me how it is and to just talk with. Im in my mid 20s and not necessarily having any sort of crisis but just....life is changing and goes on and it would be nice to chat with an old lady about it.

*edit spelling