Giving him space is so hard

Hi everyone, I just joined this morning. I'm having a very hard time coping with my partner's depression. We've been together for around 11 years, through 4 years of long distance. The past 6months he became more and more distant. That went on for months until I finally got him to open up and he told me he doesn't feel like the same person anymore.

He told me that he doesn't feel connection to the people around him. Like a ghost in his own life. I was incredibly upset about this. But he's always had depression for as long as I knew him, we've made it through episodes so many times and he always still wanted to be with me. But now he's saying he doesn't love me the same. That he'll always love and take care of me, but it's no longer the same. No intimacy or affection.

This broke my heart! I've always been able to get through anything because I knew I had him there for me. He has been my life partner and I always thought he was going to always be my life partner.

He says he wants to "come back to me" that he's lost and just needs to figure himself out. I'm trying so hard to give him space. I moved out temporarily and am staying with my parents so he can have space. My problem is, he's always been my support and life line. I'm having such a hard time keeping away and not checking up on him. I'm so worried about him every hour of the day. He says he's going to get help and antidepressants. I know I need to be patient but it's so hard!! I feel lost and anxious all the time.