Coping with depression

You pick up emotions from the one you love – so if he’s down, you too can start to feel down. You may also feel burned out by having to support him practically and emotionally. And a symptom of his depression may have been anger – and that anger may have been channelled towards you.

Plus, you may blame yourself, feeling that if you’d loved and looked after him more, he wouldn’t have become ill. In fact, there’s no truth in this – your partner’s depression is not your fault. You can help. But you’re not to blame if that help doesn’t work, or isn’t accepted.

But all this means you must get support for yourself. Naturally you feel frustrated and helpless – so make sure you have someone to listen to you occasionally. And don’t neglect your needs – make sure you are getting enough rest, having a social life, getting some fun and taking time out for yourself.

Finally
Remember that yes, some kinds of depression last a long time. But most people who get depressed recover quickly. And typically, if you and your partner can get through a first bout of depression, that’s usually the worst. It gets easier from then on.

Resources:

If you or your partner are suffering from depression or feeling a bit low, find support and advice on our message board, Coping with depression.

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