Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. Millions of people deal with it, and while the symptoms and severity can vary, it’s something that can negatively impact someone’s overall quality of life.
When you’re with someone who has depression, seeing them struggle with things like extreme sadness or hopelessness can be difficult. They might even have more extreme symptoms on some days. Have they ever struggled to get out of bed? Do they ever talk about how helpless they feel? Maybe they want to isolate themselves and it’s impacting their career or social life.
You might want to “fix” everything your partner is dealing with, but they shouldn’t be viewed as a project to take care of. Instead, focus on providing them with the support they need and the encouragement to get help.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you can be there for a partner dealing with depression.
Educate Yourself
One of the best things you can do when you’re trying to support someone with depression, whether it’s a romantic partner, friend, or family member, is to learn more about the condition.
Again, it can impact everyone differently. Some people have high-functioning depression. Others can struggle to complete daily tasks.
Educate yourself on some common symptoms, including changes in sleeping and eating habits, anger, fatigue, and loss of interest.
There are countless resources online you can use to learn more about depression. But, you should also consider speaking directly to your partner about how the condition makes them feel. The more you learn about how depression impacts them, directly, the more support you’ll be able to provide.
Provide Safety and Support
Speaking of giving them support, it’s not as complicated as you might think. Simply asking what you can do to help or letting your partner know you’re there for them can make a big difference. Let them know that they aren’t alone and that you’ll get through this together, especially when their symptoms feel overwhelming.
If you live with your partner, you can be supportive in the home environment you create with them. Lifestyle changes might not “cure” someone’s depression, but they can make a difference. Prepare healthy meals, stay active together, and come up with plans for things you can do together. Your environment should be as low-stress as possible, and you should focus on encouragement and positivity.
Encourage Them to Get Help
The good news is that depression is often very manageable. The millions of people dealing with it aren’t all destined to live with extreme sadness and hopelessness forever. The bad news? Depression rarely just “goes away” on its own.
Encourage your partner to seek professional treatment. A therapist can help them better understand what’s causing their depression and where it stems from. That’s often the first step toward healing.
Therapy can also help your partner learn to manage their symptoms, and to not let those symptoms overwhelm them.
When you encourage your partner to get help from a professional, you’re also taking some of the heaviness off of your own shoulders. You don’t have to bear the weight of taking care of your partner on your own. While you might be happy to do whatever you can for them, you risk damaging your own mental health in the process. You could get burnt out, frustrated, or even worried about the way things are going.
Being there for your partner with depression will likely mean more to them than you could ever imagine. If they’re ready to turn the page and fight back against the sting of depression, encourage them to reach out Contact Us.