Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Depression is a mental illness that requires treatment just like any other health problem. If your partner is suffering from depression, there are many things you can do to help them. Helping your partner to accept treatment, supporting your spouse throughout the treatment process, and taking good care of yourself are all important things you can do to help them recover from depression. Keep reading to learn more about how to help your spouse with depression.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Treatment Arrangements for Your Partner

1. 

   Recognize the symptoms of depression in your partner. You may suspect that your spouse is depressed by the way they act. If you are unsure, there are a few common signs of depression that can help you pinpoint something wrong. Some of the more common symptoms of depression include:
   • Persistent feeling of sadness
   • Loss of interest in hobbies, friends and / or sex
   • Excessive fatigue or sluggishness when thinking, chatting, or moving.
   • Increased appetite or loss of appetite
   • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
   • Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
   • Get angry easily
   • Feelings of hopelessness and / or pessimism
   • Lose weight or gain weight
   • Suicidal thoughts
   • Painful or digestive problems
   • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and / or worthlessness

2. 

   
   
   Encourage your spouse or partner to seek help if they haven't already. A spouse's depression can be so debilitating that they cannot seek help. It is also possible that they are embarrassed about their health. If you suspect your partner has depression, encourage them to talk to a therapist.
   • Make arrangements for your partner to talk to the therapist. The specialist may advise your spouse to see a mental health specialist.
   • You can also ask if your partner or partner wants you to come with you for emotional support.
   • If you are unsure where to start, then you might consider making an appointment with your spouse's primary health care provider to get some referrals.

3. 

   
   
   Train yourself. Understanding your depression, its effects, and its treatment will help you better understand your partner and help them make an informed decision. Ask questions, read books, and visit reputable websites about depression diagnosis and treatment. There are many organizations that provide resources for people suffering from depression. Check out these websites to find useful information as you support your spouse.
   • The National Alliance on Mental Illness website offers a variety of resources, from basic information, to a support group, and free courses.
   • The American Psychological Association website provides information about depression, a psychologist search tool, and information about some books or articles about depression.
   • The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance website contains a variety of information sources, such as audio (podcast), video, and founders of supporters.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 2: Spouse Advocacy

1. 

   
   
   Encourage your spouse to share with you. Having a straightforward, open-minded conversation about depression as a disease with some real-world consequences often helps people with depression feel relief, because it shows them that someone cares and willing to help. Your spouse needs to turn to an expert, and it will be good for them to talk to you about how they feel.
   • Say words of encouragement and encouragement to your spouse every day to let them know you care about them. Try saying, "I love you and I'm here for you", before you go to work. Or acknowledge their accomplishments for the day by saying, "I am so proud of you and what you have achieved today."
   • Let your spouse know that you are there for them by saying, “I know you are going through a hard time right now, and I just want you to know that I'm here for you. whenever you need someone to talk to. Even if you're not at home and I want to talk to you, call me and I'll be there for you. ”

2. 

   Listen when your spouse wants to talk. Demonstrating that you are listening to your spouse and understanding their point of view is another important thing to support them throughout the recovery process. Let your spouse share feelings with you and make sure you allow them to fully express themselves.
   • Don't pressure your spouse to share. Just let them know that you're willing to listen when they're ready and give them time to share.
   • Listen attentively to your partner. Nod and react appropriately to let your spouse know that you are listening.
   • Try to repeat what your partner just said sometimes during the conversation to let them know you are concentrating sometimes.
   • Avoid taking a defensive position, hiding your status, trying to control conversation, or avoiding interrupting them. Be patient even when it is difficult at times.
   • Continue to help your spouse feel someone is listening by saying something like, "I see," "Go on," and "Right."

3. 

   Make a contribution to the recovery of your spouse or partner. Although you may not understand the cause of your depression, it is important that you support and support them throughout the treatment. You can think of a few things you can do to help your spouse, but if you are hesitant, consult with them as well. Some ways you can help your spouse include:
   • Get some of your spouse's routine jobs. This means you go on with some of the tasks your spouse or partner was previously responsible for, such as paying bills, talking to people who knock on the front door, handling disputes with neighbors, etc. Ask your spouse what you can do for them if you are not sure what they need. Remember that you will not be able to take over all of your spouse's responsibilities forever, preferably until they recover. You can also enlist the help of family and friends.
   • Make sure the spouse is taking care of their own physical needs. Make sure your partner is eating well, exercising regularly, getting a good night's sleep, and taking medication as directed.
   • Attend some counseling sessions if you can or if you want to (but don't force your spouse or partner to let you sit there with them).

4. 

   Give a spouse or lover everything they expect and accept. Hope can take many forms, including faith in God, love for children, and all the standards that matter to them. Find out what influences the spouse the most and remind them of these during the times when they feel they cannot stand any more. Tell them that the bad things are over even if it doesn't happen right away, that you will always be with them to get through it, and they are very important in your life.
   • Make sure your spouse understands how much you love them and that you will support them through their difficult times at all costs. Tell them you know they're not at fault.
   • Make sure they know you will understand, sympathy if they cannot fulfill some of their house duties. Things you consider normal everyday tasks like feeding the dog, cleaning the house or paying the bills are too overwhelming for them.
   • Always talking about the disease makes your spouse or partner think it is an illness and this makes them see things as bad, impossible, irreversible, etc. Acknowledge your spouse's feelings and promise to work out a solution together.

5. 

   Encourage your spouse or partner to do things they used to love and try new things to help with their recovery. Invite them to a movie or go for a walk with you. If they decline the first few times, be patient and keep offering. Just don't force them too hard, because your spouse is not able to pursue too many activities at once.
   • Remember to praise your spouse or partner whenever they are doing something that will benefit them and help them feel better. A simple statement like this "Thank you for cutting the lawn. Now it looks so beautiful. I really appreciate this" means a lot to a person with depression.

6. 

   Plan lots of fun activities. Your spouse may feel more comfortable just spending time at home with you and your family, but you should also plan to do some fun activities for the whole family to enjoy together. This is a good idea for every family member so they have a lot to look forward to together. Activities will benefit not only your spouse or partner, but also for yourself and the children, because a change in your environment will give you a time to rest together.
   • If you have no children in your family, consider inviting some close friends over. Just make sure you invite friends where your spouse feels really comfortable around.

7. 

   Know the signs of suicide. People with depression actually sometimes commit suicide when the feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness become overwhelming. If your spouse talks about suicide, take it seriously. Don't assume they won't act on that thought, especially when there is evidence that they have a plan. Pay attention to the following warning signs:
   • Threats or talks about suicide
   • Say things that imply they don't care about anything or won't appear around you anymore
   • Give up everything they have; testament or funeral arrangements
   • Buy a gun or other weapon
   • Suddenly happy for no reason or calms down after a period of depression
   • If you observe any of the above actions, call for help immediately! Call your health care professional, mental health clinic or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 in the US for solution advice. immediately. In Vietnam, you can call 1900599930 to contact the Center for Psychological Crisis (PCP).

8. 

   Take care of yourself. It is easy to forget your own needs when your partner is suffering, but if you are unable to function properly, then you will not be able to help them. In fact, feeling depressed can affect the mood of all family members. That's why you should make sure to take good care of yourself while you are helping your spouse deal with depression.
   • Get enough sleep, eat well, keep exercising, and keep in touch with family and friends for emotional support.
   • Take some time alone to take some time off from this.
   • Consider getting treatment or joining a support group as this may help them better handle the spouse's depression.
   • Reduce stress at work and some other cases. Having too many sources of stress will tire you out.
   • You will also need to deal with the effects of your partner's or partner's depression on your children; Seek advice from a doctor or medical specialist responsible for your child's comprehensive health care.
   advertisement

Advice

• Try to maintain a positive mood. It's easy to be affected by negative thoughts about your loved one, but know that depression is a completely treatable illness.
• Your spouse's depressive behavior is not an indication of who he is. A defective social skill will cause them to become indifferent, shy, sad, or even angry. If your partner is angry, it is anger at themselves and how they feel; they are not angry at you, but you are just at the right time to be there.
• Prepare for a rejection. Since depression often negates judgment, your advice may be accepted and may also be denied. Do your best not to get angry or take the problem as directed at you. Another thing to do is not to give advice; Advice may mean well, but it always comes from the supposedly high-ranking person and if you don't really understand what they're going through, it's hard to predict what's best. for them "according to your experience". Focus on facts, health tips, and some of the things your partner will react to.
• Be patient and take note of the progress they make, no matter how long it takes.
• If your partner isn't in the mood for sex, don't feel offended. Losing interest is the result of depression and has nothing to do with you. Lack of energy is a typical symptom of depression, a common side effect of antidepressants. This does not mean that your spouse does not love you or is not attracted to you.
• Go to your local hospital or mental health clinic for support and guidance. If the company has an employee help program, use it; They can provide great support to help you interact with your spouse or partner, as well as deal with the challenges your depression has caused you.

Warning

• Don't try to fix everything yourself, because you can't do it alone. Ask family members and friends for help. Do your best and take note of every effort you have made.
• Although supported on every path to recovery, do not indulge in the efforts of your spouse or partner to resort to violence or abuse as a way for them to feel better on their own. While this can work for a short period of time, it won't help in the long run and will eventually become more harmful.
• If possible, in an emergency, you should try to call a health care professional or suicide prevention phone number before calling the police. There have been a few cases where police interventions have resulted in a person in distress ultimately hurting someone else or leading to death. If possible, contact someone you believe they have experience and training with to deal with special mental health or mental crisis cases.