How Does Depression Affect Your Relationships? - From The Words Of My Own

Depression itself doesn’t really affect the relationships, it’s more so yourself letting it affect your relationships, whether it be with a lover or friends or family or even a pet. The moment you start letting that depression settle in and take over your emotions and care for other people around you; that’s when it becomes more harsh on you in the long run.

In this blog piece I’ll mainly focus with depression in an intimate relationship, with a lover. It’s totally normal and happens in around 80% of relationships where one or both spouses are clinically depressed. So a lot of the time being in the circumstance that the other partner who isn’t clinically depressed, tries to be there and think of strategies to support their spouse through their down days.

Now to give an overview of common signs indicating that depression can be a factor in a relationship could be withdrawal, regular criticism, unhealthy coping mechanisms, lack of physical & social energy, and a lack of intimacy.

There’s really only one answer to get past all of these signs of this factor in a relationship and that’s just to talk it out. Talk it out with your spouse, get everything out on the table. Even if it takes hours or days or weeks, take it bit by bit until it’s all out and in the open and that you both understand each other’s point of views clearly.

But if your spouse has different views on speaking out about feelings, don’t force them. Because you don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable when talking about your depression or how they’re feeling with all of it when in reality they’re just on a completely different emotional spectrum to you.

Do take this into consideration however for yourself to realise this person is supposed to be your best friend. You’re in a relationship and you really do want to be with someone that listens to you, understands, and takes care into the words you’re saying to them.

Its nothing to be ashamed of in a relationship when it comes to depression. It’s something that needs to be taken seriously and something that is never to be used as a weapon or a defence mechanism because you are not your depression. You are a human being and one day that depression will be gone you’ll realise “oh shit I haven’t had a depressive episode for god knows how long! Am I still clinically depressed still? Or can I live my life with my partner? Or be single and continue my life still happy as ever?” and the answer is yes!

Now, do choose or not to forget the pain and the struggle that you went through. But also remember that you went through that and you got through it and you’re now the best person that you can be on this brighter side.

Remember, we’re always a voice to you or a voice for you.

S x