Does Your Partner experience Depression?

Depression causes relationship stress and exhaustion

If you have a partner who suffers with depression you will understand the emotional exhaustion, frustration, isolation and feelings of helplessness that this can bring into your life. 

 All you need is one additional stressor or pressure that can cause you to feel you just “don’t have any more energy to give to the relationship”.  

Christmas and Depression

 Christmas can be a season that does just that.   It can add stressors and pressure to your life, relationship and family.  Why is this?

Stressors

•  Well there is the stretching of the budget to purchase just the right gift for someone, making sure your Christmas feast is as good as your best friends or reconnecting with family. 

• Reconnecting with family can particularly open old wounds for yourself or your partner who is affected by depression. 

During this season people can particularly focus on their losses which make them vulnerable to depression.  Over the Christmas/New Year season your social interaction with friends and family probably increases, yet you can still feel isolated.   That’s interesting isn’t it? 

Are you wondering how this could be – it just does not make sense.   It actually does make sense because when you are supporting a partner suffering with depression you can very easily feel isolated as your friends and family just do not understand the emotional pain and demands that you are experiencing.

• During this festive season it is not uncommon for your resilience levels to be very low in relation to your ability to manage effectively your partner’s depression. I would encourage you to be aware of this and not judge yourself too harshly if you find you are struggling with your relationship and some of the emotions we have been discussing.  This is very normal. 

• I was reading a report today published very recently in the United Kingdom by a leading charity for depression.  They commented that over the Christmas/New Year period calls to their help line increase by 40%!   You are not alone in this.  

 Be gentle on yourself

Over the Christmas and New Year holidays be gentle on yourself and understanding toward your partner.  Watch out for friends and family also for any symptoms of depression and keep the communication channels open. 

Seek out help together if that is what is needed.

Keys to turn your situation around

In my next blog I will introduce you to a powerful key I have discovered through my own experiences that will help turn your situation around.  I too walk the road of supporting a partner affected by depression.   I do understand what you are experiencing and respect you for your courage and commitment to yourself and your partner. 

Through my blogs I aim to provide you with a sense of support, understanding and solutions that will re-energise you and show you the way forward to regaining your personal freedom while living in the midst of this very challenging situation of managing depression within a committed relationship.

 Christine McRae, The Trail Blazing Woman

 Contact christine@trailblazingwoman.com.au if you would like further information on the coaching and mentoring services I provide to women who are supporting a partner affected by depression. 

Visit my website www.trailblazingwoman.com.au to read my story of supporting a partner affected by depression.

  December 2009, The Trail Blazing Woman