04
May
How to Help a Depressed Partner
Depression of one of family members often takes toll on the whole family, especially on partners. If you just found out that your partner has depression (it can be bipolar, dysthimia, post-partum or major depression), there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, your mental health is very important. The way you handle situation with your partner can help you both or be destructive for you and the realtionship. Secondly, you can lift the symptoms of depression of your significant other just by doing the right things. Here’s a list of some of them:
- Educate yourself about depression. Depression is more than just being in a bad mood all the time, it is a biochemical process in the brain that stops neurotransmitters from sending signals to nerve cells. Learning what depression is all about helps you understand your partner and your relationship better.
- Be understanding as depression takes a lot out of your partner.Your support and patience can help your partner to cope with pain and helplessness and your alertness can prevent a suicidal episode. Studies showed that a positive family atmosphere dramatically reduces the risk of a relapse in a depressive patient.
- Don’t take symptoms of depression personally. Depressed people are often hostile, rejecting, irritable and moody. Unless you are aware of your partner’s condition you might take it as a sign of selfishness and immaturity.
- Accept the limits of your significant other. Your partner can’t just “snap out” of depression, he or she can’t overcome the symptoms through sheer willpower, self-control, reasoning or “power of love”.
- Take a good care of yourself. Helping a depressed partner can be difficult, it can even lead to a burnout. You should seek help with your family, friends, therapists and counsellors.
- Encourage your partner to seek professional help as untreated depressive episode can last for six moths or years.
- Meet with depressed partner’s therapist. It can be helpful to talk to your partner’s doctor as it can give you a better understanding of your partner’s condition.
- Discuss your feelings as a family. Depression affects the whole family and that’s why it is crucial to express your feelings, talk about issues and help each other with the situation.
- Develop a plan in case of relapse. Write down all necessary addresses, names and phone numbers that you know what to do, whom to speak and where to take your partner when he or she has a relapse.
- Change your and your partner’s lifestyle if necessary. Studies show that a change in eating habits and exercise plan can lift the symptoms of depression. Changing the lifestyle can lead to a better overall health of you and your partner and elevate the mood of the depressed person.
Tags: how to help depressed partner, Self help for depression