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Depression
Akanksha Soni February 25th, 2021 · 8min read

How to Help Your Partner Deal with Depression?

A healthy relationship means being there for each other, no matter what. However, when you deal with a spouse or partner with depression, it carries out mixed emotions within you or even you struggle hard to help your depressed spouse in every possible way.

Despite all your efforts, your actions are sometimes rejected or ignored and you begin to blame yourself for your spouse’s depression. But wait, DON’T. Understand that depression is not static and the phase can move away with your smart coping.

Depression is a condition that is affecting around 16 million adults in the United States every year. Such a huge number may easily take a toll on relationships but if you really care for your partner, you can learn how to deal with a depressed partner and help them to recover with your love and support.

Being EMPATHETIC is one way you could manage depression in a relationship and probably the best way.

Also Read: Empathy Statements to Help You in Difficult Situations

Instead of expecting them to cheer up on their own or blaming them that it is all in their head, you need to be a little more generous or try placing yourself in their shoes. Moreover, you can ask them things like:

  • How are you feeling today?
  • What do you want to do today?
  • Did you sleep well last night?
  • Are you taking your meals on time?
  • How is your work going? Are you able to concentrate?
  • Do you want to go out and meet your friends?
  • Share your negative thoughts with me.

With that, let us figure out ways to manage depression in a relationship.

How To Help Your Partner Deal With Depression?

1. Understand & Educate Yourself About Depression

Now that you are reading this blog, you must be looking for ways to deal with a depressed partner. It is best if you understand depression and show them empathetic signs in order to pass through this low phase.

Some symptoms that define depression in your partner are:

  • Feeling of sadness and hopelessness
  • Sudden change in body weight
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities
  • Anxiety and agitation
  • Feeling of worthlessness
  • Trouble in making decisions or concentrating on work
  • Thoughts of suicide

These symptoms are subjected to change and vary with your support and discussions with them. If the signs are very loud, make sure that you consult a therapist for the same.

2. Be There For Your Partner

It might look like you need to go to see a therapist or ask various doctors in the city about the illness but sometimes your presence and kind words are enough to help your better half.

It’s ok if you don’t have all the answers try to understand their feelings and what triggers them the most.

You need to show them that you care and you are always there for your partner no matter what. Using these statements will help your partner deal with depression.

  • Use Two simple words—“I care”
  • You are very important to me and I am here for you
  • Please tell me what I can do to help you.
  • Remind them “You Matter the Most to me”
  • Tell Them It’s Completely Ok to feel this way.

Also Read: Things You Should Never Say To Someone With Depression

Sit close to your partner, give them hugs in between, listen to them, and try to keep yourself calm amidst all. If you are not able to reach them physically then call or video chat with them. Their hopes lie somewhere in you so it is necessary to cheer them up or simply smile by looking at them.

3. Encourage Treatment

Realize that depression needs treatment. Your constant support along with medical treatment can help your partner in recovering earlier than usual. Tell them that you care for them and discuss types of treatments, lifestyle changes, etc.

Also Read: 5 Tips To Encourage Someone To Go To Therapy

You Can Encourage Your partner to Get Treatment By These Ways:

  • By sharing the symptoms of depression you noticed in your partner.
  • Help to find the right therapist, visit the therapist along.
  • Show your concern, and your willingness to help.
  • By Talking about the treatment options they can go for or any routine changes.

4. Look For The Warning Signs of Suicide

If the depression is showing worse signs like thoughts of death or suicide, the situation is severe here. Sometimes these signs come in other forms and you certainly need to keep an eye on them in order to deal with a partner suffering from depression.

Here are Some of the Behaviour Changes to Notice:

  • Bringing means of committing suicide like the stock of knives, pills, etc.
  • Keeping a distance from everyone
  • Showing changes in the personality
  • Giving away all the belongings
  • Showing self-destructive behavior like reckless drive, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, etc.

If any of the signs become evident, it is best to reach out to the therapist without a delay. Moreover, you must also ask your supporting friends or members to help you in the process of a spouse’s recovery.

Coping with Your Partner’s baggage

5. Create a Supportive Home Environment

Yes, you are there for them but there are other ways to show your love that helps your wife or husband coping with depression. Help them to finish the chores of the house or even you can take over all the chores for a few days and ask them to take a rest.

Tell them that they have so many hopes to live and enjoy their life like children, a beloved pet, or someone whom they admire. Reassure them that this is just a phase and it will pass but you are there for them.

Also Read: Is Depression Genetic or Environmental? Putting an End of the Debate

Understand This is the time when your partner may face difficulty to make healthy choices so now it is your responsibility to help Them to follow a Healthy Lifestyle Like:

  • Eat Healthily. You can involve your partner in cooking or discuss what to have in a meal.
  • Daily Exercise. you can go for a walk and slowly can adopt Exercise.
  • Be your partner’s emotional strength!
  • Show your love in every activity & socialize together!
  • Take the charge of a stress-free environment by having a daily routine.
  • Your positive outlook equally matters! Show them their Strength and Areas of improvement equally.

6. Don’t Take Anything Personally

It is courageous for you to stand by your partner all through their toughest times and there will be instances where you feel that your actions are of no use. Your partner is still very angry, engaged in overthinking, has lost interest in pleasure, and tried to withdraw them but you don’t need to take anything personally. Your Partner is just showing the symptoms of depression which can be cured with your love amalgamated with therapy.

7. Take Care Of Yourself

While you are supporting your partner with depression, it is also very important to take care of yourself. Moreover, it would be nice if you inspire your partner to follow the self-care routine that you are going through. For example:

Make sure that your partner is not taking your self-care in the wrong manner. For example, you are planning to leave them alone! It is great if you take help from a professional to guide you in the right direction.

Wrap-Up

Helping your partner to cope with depression can be emotionally draining for you but it is time that you become a good listener, stand beside them and support them in any way possible. Yes, therapies are good but your love will triumph it all.

Suicide Prevention Helpline

  • Call 911 or the local emergency number.
  • Stay with the person until professional help arrives and Listen to the person without judgment.
  • Remove any Harmful weapons, medications, or other objects.
  • If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.

More Interesting Readings to Help You Your Partner Deal with Depression :

Loving &  Supporting Your Partner With Social Anxiety

Emotionally Unstable Partner? Here Are The Ways To Deal With It

8 Best Stress Management Online Classes Of 2021

25 Best Herbal Teas For Stress, Anxiety, Sleep, and More For You to Sip On

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