Does Your Partner Suffer from Depression? Things You Should Know
Depression is a major mental illness which affects many people. Unfortunately, not everyone who has this condition gets diagnosed and treated. Depression doesn’t only affect the person who has it. It also impacts their personal relationships, particularly those around them day by day.
Experts say that the symptoms of depression are not noticeable to most people. And that is because too often, those who have it are good at masking it. Yet, signs of depression will show, at one point or another, and it would be impossible to hide.
Because depression can make a person feel isolated and neglected, compassion can go a long way. If your partner is experiencing high functioning depression, here are some things you should know:
Depression isn’t anyone’s fault.
Depression occurs not because it’s what the person chooses to. No one wants to be depressed. But varying factors can raise a person’s risk of mental illness. External factors may include trauma, abuse, serious illness, death or loss, and substance abuse. Genes may also play a role. Don’t blame yourself if your partner seems to be very unhappy. It’s not about you.
An affective gesture goes a long way.
Most of the time, depressive people really don’t need advice. All they need is someone to stay by their side and make them realise that they are not alone. Affective gestures like hugging, kissing, and holding hands can go a long way towards making them feel less isolated. It gives them hope. These things are more powerful than words.
They can’t control what they feel.
It’s easy to tell someone with depression to just snap out of it. But the reality is that this mental illness isn’t something they can control. Depression clouds a person’s mind with doubt, worries, fears, anxiety and other negative things to the point that they are unable to focus on the present moment and even carry out their day to day activities effectively.
Your support is so important.
More than anyone else, your support is important. While it may seem otherwise, your partner may need a little more hug. Helping them carry out their daily routine, empathising, and being around to cheer them up are really powerful and essential in their recovery.
Depression zaps their energy.
Because their mind is constantly ruminating, they always feel tired and restless. Doing things on their own require more effort than usual. This is why they often lose interest in most things, even those that they used to love doing.
Self-care is more than necessary.
Helping a loved one deal with depression can be challenging too and energy-zapping. So don’t forget to give yourself a little break from time to time. See to it that your physical, nutritional and mental needs are met too. Take good care of yourself. When you are at your best mind and body, you are in the most capable position to help out a depressed person.
Don’t give up on someone who has depression. Understand what this illness is. Educate yourself about it. Support them. Your love means everything.
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