Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people every day. Those with depression will find it difficult to maintain their relationship unless they work with a professional therapist who has experience treating relationships and depression.
Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health supports adults who are struggling with a depressive disorder and whose relationship is at risk. Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) gives people a chance to work on their depressive symptoms without having to take time away from work, school, or other personal responsibilities. We can give you tips on recognizing the signs you need IOP, such as an inability to control your emotions, feeling persistently sad, and struggling to maintain healthy relationships.
How does depression affect relationships?
Depression disorders are very common in the U.S., with more than 21 million people having at least one major depressive episode in their lifetime.1 It can cause persistent sadness, a loss of hope, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and other disruptive symptoms. When it comes to relationships, depression can have a negative impact and cause people to withdraw from their partners, which can lead to the end of the relationship.
If a person is struggling with depression, they will be emotionally unavailable, have problems communicating, and have trouble with intimacy and forming close connections. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness, losing interest in couple activities, misunderstandings, resentment, and negative bias about the relationship.
Does depression affect relationships with friends and family?
Relationships and depression are closely linked, and depression does have a negative effect on friends and families. It can lead to social withdrawal, communication issues with their partner, and frustration for both parties. It can put a strain on relationships by creating feelings of rejection, guilt, and shame, and it always ends with one person feeling hurt or alienated.
Common relationship struggles caused by depression
Forming a close relationship with someone can be difficult for many people, but for those with depression, it can cause significant struggles. Take a look at these common relationship struggles caused by depression:
- Emotional: Learning to control your emotions is crucial for those with depression. In relationships, emotional disconnection can appear as one partner feeling distant or “checked out” of the relationship. They may struggle to express their feelings and emotions properly so that their partner can relate.
- Communication: Communication can become difficult for a person struggling with depression. They may avoid difficult topics and become despondent during a conflict. They may feel like they are being talked at and not heard and understood.
- Loss of intimacy: Depression can reduce libido and cause a lack of physical closeness. They may feel rejected or confused and take it personally, which can only worsen their depression.
- Increased conflicts: If the partner is not aware of the depression, it can lead to frustration, impatience, and anger. This can cause unnecessary arguments that can damage the relationship.
- Social withdrawal: Depression can cause social isolation and a strong desire not to go out. This can cause problems in the relationship and lead to them stopping doing things they used to enjoy together.
If the partner is not aware of the depression, it can cause frustration and anger and lead to the ending of the relationship.
How to support a partner with depression
Supporting a partner with depression is possible when you take the time to learn about depression and what it takes to make the relationship work. Here are some tips on how to support a partner with depression:
Learn about the condition
Take time to learn about depression, its symptoms, and how it affects the person and their loved ones. Depression is a condition of the mind, and people with depression can have good days and bad. Symptoms include:
- Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Fatigue
- Angry outbursts
- Anxiety
- Trouble concentrating
- Unexplained headaches and other physical pain
As you learn about depression, you will learn what it takes to overcome it through medication, behavioral therapy, and holistic therapy.
Find ways you can help
A person struggling with depression wants help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. You might not know all the answers, and that’s ok. Simply sitting with them and talking about their feelings can do a lot to keep the relationship healthy. You can reassure them by saying things like, “You are important to me,” and “I am here for you.”
Encourage them to enroll in a depression treatment program and learn how to control their emotions and feelings.
Create a supportive home environment
It is very easy to create a supportive home environment for a loved one with depression. They include things like healthy eating, regular exercise, and talking about the day’s activities and how they made them feel. Other ways you can create a supportive living environment include:
- Build healthy routines that are easy to follow
- Focus on healthy eating and cooking together
- Create an exercise program that you can both do
- Reduce potential stressors around the home
- Give positive reinforcements
- Schedule activities and trips that you can do together
If your partner is in therapy, help whenever possible. Drive them to appointments and be there to drive them home. Participate in family therapy to work through difficult issues together.
By supporting one another with patience and understanding, you can create a foundation of trust and resilience. Small acts of kindness and encouragement can make a profound difference in fostering a healthier, happier relationship.
When to seek professional help
Finding professional help for depression is a great way to learn more about the condition and find healthy ways of replacing the negative behaviors caused by depression. A depression treatment program focuses on the individual symptoms through medication, behavioral therapy, holistic therapy, and life skill training. They use behavioral therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), along with holistic therapies that include group discussions, role-playing activities, animal-assisted therapy, and other beneficial therapies.
Call Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health for more information about your treatment options
Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health is a full-service mental health treatment center located in Sharon, MA, and welcomes those who struggle with depression. Our professional team will run a full health assessment to determine the best course of action to treat all symptoms of depression. We use several beneficial therapies, including CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, and other therapeutic practices.
To learn more about how depression affects relationships, fill out our online form or call 855.520.0531 today to schedule a tour and consultation.
Source: