DISCLOSURE: I am not a mental health professional. If you need help finding a mental health care provider, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit Online Therapy to call, message, or video chat a certified therapist online. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I may also receive compensation from Online Therapy or other sources if you purchase products or services through the links provided on this page. You can read my full disclaimer.
Although I’ve lived with mental illness my whole life, I am not a medical professional. If you need help finding a mental health care provider, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit BetterHelp to talk to a certified therapist online at an affordable price. This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclaimer.
CONTENT WARNING: This post mentions suicide.
I’ve dealt with depression for the last 10 years of my life.
On my clear days, I realize just how much of a difference there is between the real Meagan and Swallowed-by-Depression Meagan. On clear days, I feel love. I feel hope. I feel so much of what I lost along the way.
No matter what day, I always feel so much guilt towards my boyfriend for having to put up with me. Because one thing is clear: it takes a tremendous amount of courage and strength to be with me.
Whether you or your partner has depression, I hope that these next 5 tips will help you better understand the process of living with this terrible mental illness.
5 Loving Ways to Help Your Partner Through Depression
1. DO YOU HAVE THE PATIENCE?
Being with a partner who has depression will take more patience than either of you will want to realize.
You’ll be bored out of your mind because they won’t do anything anymore. And you’ll watch them slowly deteriorate into a grumpy, highly irritable version of themselves.
They will get frustrated over every little thing. They will yell. They will argue. They’ll pick a fight over anything they can.
Don’t take it personally, and don’t give up on them. Know that it’s most likely their depression talking.
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2. WHERE’S YOUR PHONE?
Your phone should be on you at all times just in case they feel like talking.
When they say they need you, you better believe it. Drop everything. One phone call could stop a relapse. One phone call could save their life.
3. MAKE THEM MOVE
Try your best to get them to do things. Force them to sit up and eat. Force them to get up to take a shower. Make them get the heck out of bed and take a walk outside so they can soak up some sunshine.
Tell them that this is what they have to do. Try your hardest to get through to them, past all them depression. Because even if you can’t see it, they’re still in there somewhere.
Tell them they’re not worthless and that there is a reason for them to live. Tell them you’re proud of them even if the only thing they did all day was survive.
4. SHOW YOU CARE
They’ll stop washing their hair. They won’t shave, and they won’t even bother to put on deodorant. They’ll have day old makeup crusted around their eyes. And the smell of their breath will linger from not brushing their teeth all day.
They won’t believe you when you still tell them they’re beautiful. They won’t believe you when you tell them you still love them. Actually, they probably won’t believe a word you say.
But keep fighting. Keep showing them that you love them. Keep telling them that you will never leave them because of this.
5. SOMEWHERE THEY STILL LOVE YOU
They’ll be times they won’t want to hug you. They won’t want to kiss you. They’ll cancel your dates and tell you they just want to stay home in bed all day.
They won’t respond to your texts for hours, and they will stop finding you attractive. They’ll lose all ideas of romance and see no visions of the future you once talked about.
Despite all this, know that deep down there is still a love so strong. Remember the light they used to have.
Because deep down, there is a light that never goes out.
To wrap up:
Loving someone who has depression is very difficult. There’s no denying that. Along with the 5 eye-opening tips you’ve just read, please take some time for yourself for self-care to help rejuvenate yourself.
What ways could someone help your depression? What ways to you help other’s depression?
Resources:
Online Resources:
- Self-Injury Outreach and Support
- To Write Love On Her Arms
- S.A.F.E. Alternatives
- Self-Injury and Recovery Research and Resources
- Befrienders Worldwide
- IMAlive: Online chats with trained crisis volunteers
Phone Resources:
- Crisis Text Line: HOME to 741-741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-8255
Online Therapy:
- Better Help: Affordable online counseling
- MyTherapist: Therapy through video chat, phone calls, or online messaging
- Pride Counseling: Specifically geared from members of LGBTQ+
- Faithful Counseling: Specifically geared for Christians
More Recommendations:
1. ONLINE THERAPY
Better Help is the largest online counseling platform worldwide. It makes professional counseling available anytime, anywhere, through a computer, tablet or smartphone.
2. RESILIENT BIG EBOOK BUNDLE
In the Resilient Big Bundle, you’ll get 6 amazing personal development products, such as 30 Day Negativity Detox and Figure Out Your Life. All of these together would cost over $120 if you purchased them separately, but you’ll get a big discount if you get the whole bundle.
3. MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL GUIDES
Rose Minded created three 52 week Mental Health Journal Guides. You can pick from anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. In the guides, you can find weekly gratitude, emotional intelligence, self-care prompts. Use the code meagan15 to get 15% off.
4. BLESSING MANIFESTING DIGITAL PRODUCTS
Blessing Manifesting sells a bunch of digital products focusing on self-love and personal development. You can either buy them in a digital version or physical copy.
