Posted on May 12, 2009 in Marriage Advice
When depression enters a marriage, it needs to checked and dealt with. Most marriages are going through a rouch patch due to a depressed spouse. A depressed spouse can pull his/her partner into depression and can make marriage difficult. To prevent this, the spouse should offer proper support and deal with the situation properly.
How to Cope With a Depressed Spouse?
Dealing with a depressed spouse promptly helps in further worsening of the symptoms. Here are a few tips:
- Try to find the reason: Depression could be due to several reasons such as loss of a loved one, illness, stress at job, marital problems etc. Recognizing the reason behind the depression can enable you to help your spouse properly. Encourage your spouse to share his/her problems with you to know the reason behind the depression.
- Take Care Of Yourself: A depressed spouse can make his/her partner anxious. To avoid this, take care of yourself by meeting up with friends, being with kids and pursuing your hobby. This will make your spouse feel better and help him/her overcome depression
- Have Mutual Understanding: Conflicts in marriage arise when people do things which are not in the best interests of their partners. To cope with a depressed spouse, avoid forcing, dictating things upon your spouse. If you are taking any decision such as counseling, therapy for your depressed spouse, make sure your partner agrees with the decision.
- Make Lifestyle Changes: Lack of sleep can lead to stress and depression. Research also shows that physical activity helps in reducing depression. Hence, make sure you encourage your spouse to make lifestyle changes to enable him/her to overcome depression
- Reduce Stress: Excessive stress at work and home can lead to depression. Too many things to be done during the day and packed schedules can affect physical and mental health. So, encourage your partner to reduce activities which crowd the day
- Listen: Be patient and empathetic when your spouse shares his/her problems. Listening without arguing, blaming, or offering a solution will relieve the stress and makes your spouse feel better.
Medical interventions through therapy and counseling can be of great help to depressed people. If you feel your spouse’s depression is consistent, encourage him/her to seek medical intervention.
Coping with a depressed spouse can be difficult, but proper support and surrounding your family with friends, well-wishers can enable you to help your spouse out.
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