It is human nature to be affected by the mood of those around you. Thank goodness this is so or otherwise birthday parties would not be much fun. This effect is known as contagious emotions. It is the tendency to "catch" the mood of those around you and unintentionally change your mood to be like theirs. This can be a good phenomenon if you're around people who have an uplifting and positive mood. However, it can work the other way when your moodis brought down by being around those who are feeling blue. I am sure we have all witnessed what happens to all the other babies when one baby in a room starts crying!
Just because emotions are contagious this is no reason to not associate with people who are depressed or "down". Rather it is just a reminder to protect yourself from the contagious emotions of others. Family members may fall into the pattern of living their lives strictly for the ill loved one. Every move, action or word may be a reaction to the illness or to the ill person. Eventually the needs of the rest of the family may be lost. People who suffer from depression need support, friendship and companionship as much as everyone else, however family members often become victim to the contagious emotions spread throughout a house. Remember depression is a real illness that is not contagious itself.

The following are ideas for protecting yourself from contagious emotions:

By learning how to protect yourself against negative contagious emotions, you are more able to help your ill family member and yourself. Families have reported that when their loved one is up, they are up and when the ill person is down, the family is down. You need to think about your own health and how this mood roller coaster affects you or other members of your family. If you have tried unsuccessfully to control your own moods and have not found relief, it may be advisable to seek the professional advice of a physician or a counselor.