Depression in Relationships! What Can You Do?
Hello Wonderful Community!!
Many of us experienced/ experiencing depression. We know how it feels and how hard it is to deal with relationships too, when you experiencing depression. However, good thing is that people are beginning to understand better about it as awareness about it spread.
Healthy and strong relationships have the potential to deal with the symptoms of depression and in some instances a relationship could become a reason to make someone feel depressed.
When there is a healthy and strong relationships, it acts as a strong support network who could talk and hear you compassionately. They make you feel supported and accompanied. Friends and families are one of those relationships which could provide such support network to a depressed person. But, if your relationship is toxic or troubled one, it acts as a big risk factor to cause depression. When you're depressed, you feel overwhelmed to communicate with anyone. It becomes difficult to maintain supportive and fulfilling relations. And, others may feel upset or annoyed with your behavior pattern and vice-versa.
So what could we do to deal with depression and lead relationship effectively?
Communicate Openly- Probably, communication won't be easy for a depressed person. But we could try as communication is important when it comes to deal with depression. Communication could help the person to ease the pressure they feeling related to a relationship. They could openly talk and discuss about it with the other person. This other person could be someone who is compassionate, open-minded and non judgmental.
Recognizing the triggers and minimizing it. Identify what cause the depression? Is the trigger due to some relationship issues? Maybe the issue is tiny but you thinking a lot about it and that caused a depressive episode? It happens. And, it's okay. Most of us take things deeply and seriously for our relationships. It is natural to do it. However, rather making assumptions and thinking about the tiny issues in deep, we could simply communicate and discuss about it? It could help to have a better view over the concerns and can be fixed.
Have a better behavioral approach- To practice it, you could start with setting goals for daily activities for your relationships. Figure out what you enjoy most abour your relationships and do it with them. Also, avoid comparing your past and current behavior. It can vary. Recovering from depression is like learning to walk again after breaking your leg. It will take time but with regular try, we could do it.
If you experiencing depression and finding it hard to balance relationships, you're not alone. We're here with you to support and figure out things to deal with it better.
i) How're you doing?
ii) Is depression affecting/ affected your relationships too?
iii) Do you've any suggestion or tips to deal with it better?
Let's discuss!!
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@ASilentObserver
Depression has affected my relationship but I'll flat out admit was entirely my fault.
Sometimes depression is a manipulative biaaatch. Your self esteem goes down, you get paranoid, jealous, you point fingers, and so on.
Is important to remember when in a relationship you own respect and trust to your partner. Because otherwise you might aswell be single.
Your partner isn't at fault for your depression and I see alot of people forgetting this.
When in a relationship is important to constantly work on this, work in ourselves, fight against depression as best as we can. If possible, educate our partner so they can be understanding, but that's only that. Only explaining them and not making them accountable.
Nowdays I'm having therapy and working 24/7 on it and I can say my relationship has never been better.
@Booklover95 Hi Book! 
Good to see you again! I agree depression really impacts the relationship and you experience all emotions as shared by you. However, trust and communication is the key for relationship and one could respect and trust partner and understand that depression could happen with anyone. It's not the fault of your partner or someone. With good support, one could deal with depression.
I am glad to hear you're on therapy and it helping you. <3 Thank you for sharing your lovely insights with us. Hugs!
@ASilentObserver Hi Obs! :) This is a reall great post as it brings attention to a very important issue that many individuals experience. Having dealt with depression for more than half of my life, and still struggling with it, I can admit that it never goes away. However, I am thankful to have been able to learn more about it and better maintain it over time.
i) How're you doing?
At this point in life, I am doing great and I am very thankful. I always look back at what I went through and I am thankful to be in a better place in life today.
ii) Is depression affecting/ affected your relationships too?
Depression did affect my relationships when I was unable to maintain it and/or communicate what was going on with me. However, over time, I was able to better communicate what was going on to those I trusted most. This had help strengthened those relationships and helped me gain a support system.
iii) Do you've any suggestion or tips to deal with it better?
In my personal experience, I found it best never to let myself be alone with any negative thoughts for too long and to distract myself from them if I am able to. And so, I keep myself busy with the things I love and enjoy, such as reading, learning, working, exercising, and so on. However, I do let myself breakdown every now and then as it is normal, and I do not want to repress and/or bottle up anything inside. Thus, I found that writing and/or saving positive/touching quotes have helped me express myself when I sometimes was not able to.
@SaimaK Hey Saima, Glad to see you again! <3 Happy to hear you doing great and grateful for all you have today. Amazing. Thank you for sharing such a lovely thoughts on this post. Agree with you.
@ASilentObserver Thank you so much, Obs! :) I really do appreciate it <3
Thank you for tagging me in this amazing post! @ASilentObserver
I think it's important to remember that a lot of us are dealing with tough situations in our lives and that is okay! Relationships are something that we are constantly forming every single day! Professional work relationships, friendly relationships, intimate relationships etc.
And it's important to realize that our tough situations won't go away just because we formed a new relationship! And that is okay.
We don't need to pretend that we are not experiencing tough stuff, but instead we can embrace it with open arms and discuss it to make it easier to handle and a little more manageable!
I think it's important to talk about what is on your mind and communicate in your relationships, and to be open about what you are feeling or experiencing. By all means, this is not something that is easy to do, and it will not always be done overnight, but we can always slowly work towards this in order to help strengthen our relationships and make them feel more natural rather than trying to hide our problems!
In our relationships, it's great to feel supported by others and the imporant thing to remember is that it's okay to talk about what you are going through and to ask for help! There is no reason to be ashamed for this!
Need a few days off? Ask for it! Want to spend some time alone? Go for it! Want to go out and distract yourself from your worries? Do it! Need some hugs to help you feel supported? Grab that hug! Need to talk about something on your mind? Do it!
It is not always simple, and that's okay! But instead of getting overwhelmed by it, embrace the difficulties and realize that this is an opportunity to grow and to strengthen your relationships! In the end, the ones who matter won't mind and the ones who mind don't matter!
Do you need to talk about something on your mind? I am always here to support you all! My PMs are always open no matter what! <3 Send me a message at any time!
@AnyaS Hey Anya, :) Agree with you about realizations and opening up to communicate and discuss about it. It could help one to deal with it better. Appreciate your amazing thoughts on this matter. Thank you for all the good work and support. You are wonderful. <3
*hugs* you are honestly so sweet! <3 im happy to share my thoughts with this wonderful community! <3 @ASilentObserver
@ASilentObserver Great topic that a lot of us can relate to
i) How're you doing?
I've definitely been going having a rough time. A lot of work and personal things I'm trying to get through one day at a time.
ii) Is depression affecting/ affected your relationships too?
Yes it definitely does. My bf and I live together so on nights when I'm stuck in my own thoughts whether it be about our relationship or something with myself then he tries to help/asks if i want him to do anything to help. sometimes just a hug helps, other times i just want to be alone for a little while. he reminds me that i'm loved and is supportive of me and i do the same to him if he is down. it's hard when life happens and both sides are struggling with depression but we fight on because we believe it's worth it even if depression shoots down my self esteem.
iii) Do you've any suggestion or tips to deal with it better?
Like you mentioned - communication is key. Many times he can tell if I just want to be alone by the way I answer things like "how was your day" and other days if i don't want to talk about it at the moment we'll watch a movie or do something else to get my mind off it for a while and try to talk about it later. A little bit of time can make a huge difference and having someone you trust to talk to about what you're going through makes it so much better.
Thank you for sending me here to have a read Obs.
I have a question for everyone though. What tips or advice would you have when the two people in a relationship are both suffering from depression? Are there any other different or additional things to note in that sort of situation?