Loving Someone with Depression

Loving someone with depression can be tough. You may have curtailed social activities. You may have taken on more home responsibilities. Finances may have suffered if your partner’s depression is severe, and they can’t work. You may feel angry about changes in your relationship. If you love someone with depression or dating someone with depression, you’ve been given a special set of challenges. Here’s a list of things you can do to help navigate them.

Know their feelings and help them:

Loving those with depression requires encouraging them to feel like they should be. People suffering from depression prefer to conceal their feelings because they do not want to be burdensome. This is particularly true if their partner has gone out of the means of knowing.

Acknowledge the fact that the situation is stressful, but that neither you nor your partner is to blame. One way to do this is to make “I wish” statements. For example, “I wish things were different for you and me right now,” or, “We’re going to deal with this depression together.”  

After all, it is necessary to allow depressed individuals to understand and share their emotions. Often they might not know why they feel depressed or helpless. It is not as easy as “I feel sad because of…” If it was that simple, you might just fix whatever it was that caused the depression.

Understanding and balance between You and Your Partner:

It could be difficult to love and respect somebody with depression. You have to satisfy your partner’s needs constantly, even at the risk of your desires. The trick to being satisfied in a relationship is to keep a balance. If you are already dating somebody with depression, it is normal to consider starting to help them feel comfortable. So, put yourself first occasionally, and do not feel bad about it.

Be Flexible:

Depression is a multifactorial condition, so when you are dating someone with depression, you also have to be flexible. The mood of your partner will shift unexpectedly. This will affect a person’s ability to engage in activities. Suggest anything inside your partner’s normal routine, such as the two of you playing a video game at home.

Make it clear you’re available:

9 times out of 10 they will never take you up on your offer, but it’s important to at least offer. Don’t just ask to talk. Make yourself available for whateverit is they might want or need.

Know you might have to give it a little extra for a while: 

Depressive episodes aren’t like a migraine where you go to sleep and you wake up and chances are you feel better. No, they can last hours, days, or even weeks for some people. Give your partner a little break from the day-to-day things you could be doing yourself.