For people struggling with depression, it’s important to have compassion and to take action to overcome this state, including seeking professional help. Remember that the negative thoughts you are experiencing are likely being driven by depression, not by a person. Depression can lead to the ultimate negative outcome of death, so please consider calling National Hotline if your significant other is experiencing thoughts of self-harm. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
There is a constant dose of emptiness and disconnection in our everyday interactions due to overworking, television and technology. People managing depression need more company, more friends, more people reaching out to them, and more people wanting to spend time with them, at this site not the opposite. When you get to know that someone you’re dating has depression and you decide to take care of them, let me tell you, it’s a huge responsibility. Not many people realize that the one who helps others with their mental health conditions also needs help.
Dating someone with depression is no exception, and can even be more challenging. However, those with depression often have incredible capacities for empathy, understanding, and emotional insight, which enrich relationships. Everyone experiences the symptoms of depression differently, so identifying where your partner struggles will help your relationship. So, if you are currently in the dating game, be on the lookout for people with these traits —and avoid those who don’t. You deserve no less than a partner who is going to treat you right and love you passionately, depression and all.
They should also be mindful of their own emotions. It’s important for a partner to be in touch with their own emotions, not just yours, so they can take care of themselves and ask for what they need as well. If the person you’re dating agrees to it, get involved in their treatment process. Deciding whether or not to end a relationship is a hard decision, and it can be even more difficult when worrying that your ex may sink into a deeper depression post-breakup. Mental illness alone is no excuse to break up with someone.
What to Know About Dating Someone With Depression
It provides one with a general sense of what to expect, as well as what can be done to manage symptoms better. This next point might sound surprising, but seeking help applies not just to your partner, but to you as well. Dating someone with depression can be stressful, tiring, and emotionally draining at moments. Over time, you may have even unknowingly put your needs aside in order to prioritise those of your partner.
They can appear lazy, distracted, or generally uninterested in you, the relationship, and life. It is heartbreaking to see someone you care about in pain, and your natural reaction is probably to try to make it all okay. But depression is not cured by love or kindness. The truth is that there are no quick fixes for depression. If you’re feeling nervous about bringing up the subject, keep in mind there’s a fair chance this person already has some firsthand or secondhand experience with depression.
What It’s Like To Date When You Have Depression
Sometimes, breadcrumbs can lead you to something wonderful, but if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Romantic relationships can work (and well!) with a partner who has ADHD. Additionally, if one person does all of the work, the other may feel as though they’re being controlled and rebel. “The most important negative pattern is the parent-child dynamic, where the more organized partner becomes the manager of the relationship and the manager of the ADHD partner,” Orlov explains. The same can be said for a romantic relationship. At best, tending not to dwell on undesirable things, being hyperfocused on your mate’s best interest, and being spontaneous might positively affect a romantic pursuit — as in my case.
Sometimes you just can’t help someone with depression
Okay, so dating someone with depression doesn’t exactly sound like an ideal relationship, but that doesn’t mean your partner is going to be a loveless zombie. On the contrary, once you prove yourself to your mate, they’re going to be your loyal lover for life – or something like that. Many times, we hurt the ones we love, and dating someone with depression is no different. There may be times when you feel like your partner is walking all over you or taking all of their depressed frustrations out on you unfairly. It isn’t easy to love someone when you can’t always make them happy. Whether you’re the sufferer or the mate on the other side, depression is hard – especially when you’re trying to make a romantic relationship work.
The heartbreaking truths about dating someone with depression
I say so because most of the 17 million depressed people belong to the 18 to 30 years age group. Be open with how you feel, and understand that they may struggle to put their emotions into words. Validate what they say, even if you may not personally understand what they’re feeling.
As soon as we were alone again, Wayne would be unable to focus on our conversation, become visibly rattled, and wouldn’t want to talk about what was making him emotional. When entering a new relationship, it’s normal for that little voice in the back of your mind to dredge up relationship baggage from the past out of fear that history will repeat itself. You’ve experienced relationship trauma in the past. Time went by but i just got out of a 3 yr relationship a few months ago, with another man with depression. Totally untreated, he’d have suicidal ideations and cope by using alcohol which makes it worse. Thank you, he is showing effort but I am just scared of waiting too long, getting even deeper involved and it being even harder.