6 Things To Remember If Your Partner Is Suffering from Depression

Is your partner suffering from depression?

Every relationship is bound to go through an array of challenges, hurdles, and setbacks. You either succeed and sustain the togetherness or you witness the breakdown. However, the challenge gets quite intense when it comes to dating someone who is suffering from depression. The job is not easy at all. Yes, depression is real. And it’s that dark and empty place where nobody wants to be in. Its a very painful, confusing and helpless feeling that you go through when you have to watch your loved ones suffer. Therefore, we are going to talk about the things that you need to remember if your partner is suffering from depression.

It’s a very stupid and naive thing to assume that someone can actually stop being depressed if they want to. Nobody wants to be depressed intentionally and neither can they just undo depression from their lives. Depression is not something that one consciously chooses.

If you are in a relationship with someone who is battling depression, and you want to be there for them as a supportive partner then the first and the most primary thing that you need to do is to accept and acknowledge the fact that a mental disorder like depression exists and can cast life-altering effects on its sufferers.

The positive aspect is that people suffering from depression have a full chance of recovery if given proper treatment and care. They too can lead a very healthy and happy life. Well, it can be both challenging and rewarding when you are taking care of someone who is suffering from depression. It’s not expected out of you to heal your partner and cure their depression, but you could be a little empathetic and keep a couple of things in mind that are definitely going to serve as your ultimate guidelines. 

Delving deeper into the term “Depression”

According to American Psychiatric Association (APA) –

“Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.”

Depression is a commonly encountered mood disorder. The sufferers experience nagging feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and tend to lose interest in the activities that they once enjoyed. Some of the physical symptoms caused by depression involve chronic pain and digestive issues.

According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR), these are the following symptoms of Depression :

1. Depressed mood most of the day.
2. Diminished interest or pleasure in all or most activities.
3. Significant unintentional weight loss or gain.
4. Insomnia or sleeping too much.
5. Agitation or psycho-motor retardation noticed by others.
6. Fatigue or loss of energy.
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death

The symptoms must last for at least two weeks or more in order to be determined if the patient is suffering from depression.

No matter how tough it may get, no matter how helpless it may seem, you must not lose hope too soon and try following these 6 takeaways, which will eventually guide you to support and take care of the loved one, who is battling depression.

Here are the 6 things you must remember if your partner is suffering from depression. 

1. Do thorough research on depression

If you remain ignorant about the folds and grooves of the disorder then you won’t be able to provide significant help to your partner. All too often, it happens that the patient fails to realize that they are suffering from a serious mental disorder like depression. This lack of awareness can be life-threatening for them. Therefore, its important that you educate yourself and your partner about it. Do some research, take the help of DSM 5 or consult a professional therapist and find out about the onset, causes, symptoms, and treatment of depression.

You will gain a wider perspective and understand what your partner is going through, their needs, and their crisis. You will also develop the ability to anticipate the issues that your partner may face in the future. Firstly, look out for the signs and symptoms of depression if you suspect that your partner is suffering from it. Thereafter, take them to a professional psychologist or a psychiatrist for proper clinical diagnosis. Its never too late to learn and armor yourself in order to combat depression along with your partner.