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Step 1
Anchor the depressive with her needs and to a meaningful therapy. Times will be tough when dealing with a depressive relationship. However, a supportive, unwavering voice is important to your partner.
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Step 2
Do not mistake something you do for the reason for your partner’s condition. One of the most common hurdles depressive relationships face is the misunderstanding a healthy partner has that he or she is somehow responsible for the depression the partner feels. Usually, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead of asking what you did to cause the depression, focus on finding the negative stimuli in your partner’s life.
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Step 3
Encourage professional help. Your partner will almost certainly be apprehensive about finding help, because this would entail admission of the condition. Depression is not often something with which untrained people can cope without some guidance. Without pushing, try to nudge your partner in this direction.
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Step 4
Take care of yourself. Depressives can suck the life out of you, if you don’t look after yourself from time to time. It’s okay to be selfish, and in fact is necessary. Find “you” time to keep yourself from falling into the depressive pattern also.
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Step 5
Do not be afraid of medication. Many times depression is caused by chemical changes in the body or brain and can only be controlled by rebalancing those chemicals or hormones. In today’s medical world, many people frown on medication as a way of assuring mental health, but they are a necessity some of the time. If a medical professional suggests that your depressive partner be medicated, take his/her advice and encourage your partner to agree.
