Do you or your partner have depression?
Here are some tips to strengthen your relationship as a couple:
Depression is something that can be hard to experience both individually and when you see your partner suffering from it. If you have been in a relationship with your partner for a long time and notice that you or your partner have shown symptoms of depression, it's best to reach out to a mental health professional for help. There is also the number 988 that you can use 24/7 for a mental health crisis. Below are some tips from a depression therapist at Inward Counseling on how you can be supportive of your partner who has depression. As well as how you yourself can start feeling better in your relationship if you have depression.
You can support your partner who is experiencing depression symptoms by taking a nonjudgmental stance on how they are feeling:
If your partner is experiencing depression. One of the best ways you can be supportive of them is by reaching out to them. People that experience depression may not feel like opening up about how they feel because they may believe that they are being a burden. If depression is changing the way that you are seeing your partner be able to function in their life, be honest and ask them how you can be supportive of them. Keep communication open and nonjudgmental with your partner. Approach asking how you can be helpful with curiosity.
Make sure that you are taking care of yourself and attending to your own self-care:
If you yourself are experiencing depression in your relationship or if your partner is experiencing depression, it’s important that you are attending to your own self-care. You won’t be able to take care of others if you cannot take care of yourself. If you experience depression, doing one thing for your self-care every day even if it is small can be helpful not just for your mental health but also for your relationship.
Work together to resolve conflicts that may be coming up from depression symptoms:
Depression can show impacts a relationship in different ways but may especially impact intimacy. If conflicts come up in your relationship involving intimacy or in general, it is helpful to use “I” statements to express how you feel towards your partner. Using “I” statements can help to diffuse judgment and blame in conflicts. An example of how to use this may look like this… “I feel like we haven’t been as close recently. I understand that you are going through a lot and I am here for you. I was wondering if we would be able to spend some more time together just for one hour tonight?”
Always Come From a Place of Respect
In that “I” statement example the individual stated how they were feeling and made a gentle request to hang out with their partner. In the example, the individual acknowledged their partner's feelings while also being able to ask for what they would like. It’s always important to show respect toward your partner. If for some reason your partner says “no”, respect their decisions at that time. Continue to reach out to your partner in the future. Having patience with your partner when they are experiencing depression can strengthen your relationship.
Reach Out For Help
If you or your partner are experiencing depression symptoms you can reach out to the therapists here at Inward Counseling. We are able to help with both individual Therapy for Depression and Couples Counseling. Reach out to us to see if we can be a good fit for therapy services!
Therapy for Depression Can Help You Build A Life You Love With Your Partner
You do not have to face your depression alone and in the dark. You deserve to be healthy and happy. Our compassionate team of therapists at Inward Counseling wants to help bring you into the light. If you are struggling and need help, reach out to us today.
We invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation or call us at 704-255-5114
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Other Therapy Services offered at Inward Counseling
Therapy for Depression is just one of the many therapy services we offer at our practice. We also offer trauma therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, and Christian counseling. We offer online therapy. We can also accommodate in-person services at our Charlotte, NC, or Pineville, NC based offices. Feel free to explore our blogs for great reads and tips for managing life’s challenges.