Is Your Partner Suffering With Depression? How to Recognize the Signs & Ways to Help
Depression, in a marriage, is a major source of divorce, often called the ’silent killer’, because the signs and symptoms closely mimic unhappiness, anger and resentment. Withdrawing from a partner, no communication and a simple lack of all responses can easily be interpreted as the actions of someone who no longer loves you. These actions often leave the other partner feeling hurt and wondering if they’re the cause of this behavior – this is actually far from the truth. The problem is also made worse by the fact that very few of us are actually equipped to deal with this illness.
If your partner is suffering with depression, you’re not alone – in the United States it’s estimated that 17million people are affected yearly making it the most common medical problem diagnosed by Doctors.
This is often really important piece of this particular article. Depression is an awful disease for the patient and is very emotionally draining for their family and loved ones. If you do not understand the illness, it’s very easy to become frustrated and angry with the person suffering from depression but it’s vitally important to remember that depression is caused by changes that occur in the brain’s chemistry that the depressed person has no control over.
What are the symptoms of depression? These are the most common signs and can range from mild to severe, and can last for a few hours to a few years:
• Always tired – no motivation
• Persistent sad, anxious, or ‘empty’ moods
• Sleeping too much or sleeping far less than normal – awakening during the night or very early in the morning
• Reduced appetite and weight loss. The opposite might also apply – increased appetite
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Other persistent medical problems that do not respond to treatment
• Low self-esteem
• Irritability
• Often very negative in their thoughts and actions
Depression is normally triggered by a small concern that starts to ‘nag’ at the sufferer, they then start to worry incessantly about the concern and then it just gets bigger and bigger until it spirals out of control into full blown depression. Nothing you do can stop it!
There are however, some keys to overcoming depression and keeping your marriage strong. As is true with all illnesses, prevention is the best medicine so here are some strategies for preventing and defeating depression:
• Educate yourself and your partner about depression – having an awareness and understanding of the signs/symptoms can greatly reduce any negative consequences
Making love out of nothing at all Air Supply Lyrics
• Seek professional help as early as possible. It’s extremely important that the ‘patient’ develops a rapport with their psychiatrist as with the help of this doctor, and anti-depressants they’ll recover
Confide in your family, a close friend or even your pastor as it’s important for you to also have someone to speak to when the going gets tough.
Address any problems in your marriage or personal life as soon as they arise – don’t allow them to ‘fester’ and thereby promote another bout of depression in your partner.
Ensure your partner gets plenty of exercise. Regular exercise releases endorphins into the bloodstream – they’re mood enhancers.
In conclusion, I would like to remind you that there is no shame in suffering with depression, remember there are seventeen million other people in the US also suffering from the same disease. What is important is for you to seek help and treatment as early as possible. Please also bear in mind the vows you took when you got married “…for better or worse, through good health and sickness…” Marriage means 2 people stay committed, through good and bad!
If your partner is seeing a doctor and you’re battling to come to terms with the impact depression is having on your marriage, please CLICK ON THIS LINK – you don’t have to deal with this by yourself. Start by signing up for the Free six part mini course which will help you overcome these and many other problems you may be experiencing. Please do this now – you haven’thing to lose except your marriage in this stressful situation. Please don’t give up until you have explored all your options – go directly to the link belowSave My Marriage Now.
15 Responses to “Is Your Partner Suffering With Depression? How to Recognize the Signs & Ways to Help”
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Marriage+depression+alcoholism Argumentative spouse = HELP!!!? Here is my situation. I’ve struggled w/ achohol for about 8 to 10 years. I’m currently in treatment to regain control of my life. Needless to say it has taken it's toll on my marraige. I’ve had a series of events occur in the last 6 months to put me in a pretty bad depression to which has driven me to drink harder to cope w/ daily life( loss of job, loss of insurance, totaled car, and much more), and to be able to sleep. Which has also made things worse with my wife. She keeps telling me that I need to be happy w/ myself before I can be happy w/ others (her). But the way I feel, being a good husband and a good father IS what makes me happy, but if she’s not willing to not be so hard headed how can I be happy? It’s hard to relay the entire situation but it’s an endless cycle of depression, alcohol, argument, unwillingness to look at this from a different view point, and not knowing how to help one another. My question is how can I get her to listen and to me & hear me?
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How can you expect her to change for you (ie listen to you) if you won't change for her (ie alcohol) Maybe if you took wanting to be happy seriously she would take you seriously about it also and listen. Drinking doesn’t make your life happier it only helps you run away from your problems for a short period and cause more problems obviously in your case.
Depression In Marriage | Trailblazing Woman. Posted in Depression, depression in relationship, relationship stress, Uncategorized | Tagged depression in marriage, depression in
How can you expect her to change for you (ie listen to you) if you won't change for her (ie alcohol) Maybe if you took wanting to be happy seriously she would take you seriously about it also and listen. Drinking doesn’t make your life happier it only helps you run away from your problems for a short period and cause more problems obviously in your case.
Dating Advice For Women – Relationship Depression. Relationship depression can occur when one person exercises a need to completely control the other person. How To Get Him To Propose Marriage
She's angry and resentful because you put her through crap from eight to ten years and though you have apparently gone through some crazy things that were out of your control; what you do have control over is right now. Just my opinion, but I think you should humble yourself a little more – just enough to feel what she feels when you look into her eyes, when you talk. The woman obviously loves you to have stood by your side for all of those years, I kinda think she deserves a little more of your respect at this time, rather than you feeling she’s being stubborn because she's unwilling to see everything from your point of view. See – it's about compromise. She's compromised and sacrificed a lot to be with you. Now it's your turn. And all you have to do is simply love her and remember that she stood by your side through even the bad times. Last; get back out there and live life…when you do, you’ll have less time to think and feel depressed. Focus on your career a little, revisit a hobby or sport you love, take a class, build something, get a dog (or some other furry creature), and find something you and your wife like to do together, also.
She's angry and resentful because you put her through crap from eight to ten years and though you have apparently gone through some crazy things that were out of your control; what you do have control over is right now. Just my opinion, but I think you should humble yourself a little more – just enough to feel what she feels when you look into her eyes, when you talk. The woman obviously loves you to have stood by your side for all of those years, I kinda think she deserves a little more of your respect at this time, rather than you feeling she’s being stubborn because she's unwilling to see everything from your point of view. See – it's about compromise. She's compromised and sacrificed a lot to be with you. Now it's your turn. And all you have to do is simply love her and remember that she stood by your side through even the bad times. Last; get back out there and live life…when you do, you’ll have less time to think and feel depressed. Focus on your career a little, revisit a hobby or sport you love, take a class, build something, get a dog (or some other furry creature), and find something you and your wife like to do together, also.
Depression, Anxiety, and Faith | Marriage Confessions Depression. Categories Depression, health, Marriage Confessions. IMG_9652. This past year I struggled with a bout of depression.
Have you talked with a trained physician about possibly being bi-polar ? Sounds alot like what I'm going through myself.
As a clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist who has worked with many people who suffer from depression and manic depression, I believe that this blog is a wonderful resource for those with affective disorders as well as their families. I’ve recommended this blog to many people. The blog deals with the symptoms and diagnosis of depression and manic depression. It also goes into the full spectrum of possible treatments – - talk therapy, medications, cognitive therapy, ECT, etc. Importantly, the blog discusses the impact of depression on family members and loved ones, while also providing support and hope for those who suffer with the disease. There is also a chapter on getting good professional help and a list of support groups that are available.
Have you talked with a trained physician about possibly being bi-polar ? Sounds alot like what I'm going through myself.
The Whole Thing: Sexless Marriage, Depression, and Porn : I Live. The Whole Thing: Sexless Marriage, Depression, and Porn : A true, personal story from the experience, I Live In a Sexless Marriage.
That's a hard situation and I do commend you for getting some help. You’re taking the right steps. Take care of yourself first, then everything else will fall into place. It’s important that you keep yourself together, and fix what's wrong with you, thats the only way you can extend yourself after you have healed. It’ll be a hard road for you, tell your wife you love her, but you need to heal first, can you go to a rehab clinic? If you can, do it.
How to Cope With Loneliness & Depression in a Marriage | eHow.com. A spouse working long hours or a decrease in communication can be contributing factors. Loneliness in a marriage often leads to depression.