Having a partner suffering from depression can be quite confusing. You might have mixed emotions and several questions running here and there in your head. Well, if this is the case, then you, my friend, are not alone. All of us partners feel the same way. Watching the love of your life fade into sadness isn’t easy. So here is how you can help your partner during their depression stage and cope with depression in a relationship. We hope these tips help you out and get a better handle on things happening around the house and in your relationship.
- Educate Yourself
The first thing you can do to help your partner get through their hard times is to educate yourself on the issue. Do your research and learn about depression. Contact their doctor and ask about their condition to better understand what they are going through and how you can help.
Make sure to differentiate between false rumors and facts. Depression is a common mental disorder, but only a few people completely understand what it is. So get your information from trusted sources so you can help your partner in the best way possible.
- Self-care is important
You need to understand a very basic rule. You can only take care of others if you are in good shape. A person with no energy or motivation can’t help a depressed person. How are you going to do it? You can’t, no matter how much you try to do so!
So do not forget to take care of yourself while taking care of your partner. We often get lost with our loved ones. Watching them suffer is never easy, but you have to understand that you need to be strong to help them roundup review on peninsuladailynews.com
So focus on yourself. Eat heart-friendly food, avoid junk food, take in all the essential nutrients, exercise, and even meditate daily. Also, try to get out of the house and take some fresh air with your friends and family to keep yourself from getting depressed.
- Be Understanding and Supportive
The best thing that you can do for your partner is to be there for them. A depressed individual feels empty and lonely inside, no matter how surrounded he is with people. Even with all the noise on the outside, their inside is empty and vacant. As a partner, you need to understand that.
Instead of asking questions or judging their behavior, simply be supportive and understanding, much like treating a child. You have to show your partner that you will be there through thick and thin and help them get past this stage of their life.
- Get Help Yourself
When helping your partner cope with depression, you might end up having bad or negative thoughts as well. Everyone requires attention and love. But unfortunately, your partner won’t be able to do that for you with their depressed state.
So instead of knocking on their door and forcing them to make you feel better, get help elsewhere. Hang out with a friend or a family member and pour your heart out. Share how you feel, and ask for help when required to keep things balanced. You can also consult a professional in case you find it hard to cope with your partner’s depression.
- Don’t take things personally
Depression is a mental disorder. Much like the other ones, it can be quite confusing both for the patient and the loved ones around him. But as a partner, you need to understand that the way your partner is behaving is mainly because of their depressed state. You will be surprised to find out how depression can affect a person’s behavior and change it altogether.
You might often find them irritated, annoyed, or withdraw from everyone. Depression can have that effect. It makes one lose interest in everything they loved or liked in the past. They might even stop showing affection or interest in your sexual desires.
But you need to understand that this doesn’t mean that your partner doesn’t love you anymore. It’s that thing people say, it is not you, but it is me. The same is the case here. There isn’t anything wrong with you or the relationship. Their mental state doesn’t allow them to be happy or interested in anything, even if they try. So try to understand and have an open perspective about things.
- Take more responsibility
As your partner is going through a serious mental disorder that might affect their physical health, it would help if you would take more responsibility around the house or at work if you have a joint business. People in their right minds often end up frustrated with the daily grind. Imagine how something with a long-term feeling of sadness might feel about getting up and doing something?
So to help them out, simply take on some of their chores with a happy face. You don’t want to make them feel less of themselves. Try to help out in things, or do chores before they even start. In short, try and give them space and the time they need to work on themselves and get better to create happiness.
- Work with them on their treatment
Individuals are usually ashamed of telling their partners about their depressed state and asking for help. For them, asking for help feels like a sign of weakness. But in these hard times, you should be the one taking on all the responsibility. Talk to them and help them understand that asking for help, whether from you or a professional, isn’t a sign of weakness.
Go to the doctor with them. Stay in contact with their therapist to always stay on top of things. Keep track of all the appointments as they might forget. Don’t jump indirectly as it might make them feel attacked. Take things slow such as helping them with medication or driving to the doctors.
- Show Affection
People suffering from depression often believe that they are a burden on others. Your partner might feel the same way even if they are using words to express their feelings. Having low self-esteem and no self-worth is quite common among depressed individuals.
So the best way to help them during these uncertain times is to be by their side and show them how much you love them. Instead of grand gestures, go for smaller things. Treat your partner nicely. Talk about good times in the past. Tell them how you feel about them and how you are there to support them at every step of getting better and regain their strength.
Final Words
Depression is a very confusing mental disorder. But after all, they all are. How can you understand what is going through a person’s head or how they feel without them telling you about it? Not all of us are psychics. So the only thing you can do is, educate yourself, communicate with them and try to be there with them all along the way, even if that means taking CBD concentrate on helping them feel better! You just have to be there for them, maintain your sanity and support them throughout their treatment. Remember, you need to become their ROCK!
