Understanding Depression: How does depression affect relationships?

Depression affects many aspects of life, including relationships. The symptoms of depression can make it hard to be interested in anything, let alone feel close to other people. In fact, relationships are often one of the first things to suffer when depression takes hold.

If you or someone you love is dealing with depression, it’s important to know how the condition can affect relationships. 

This article tackles some of the most common ways that depression can impact those closest to you and how to best deal with them, including going to luxury rehabs.

What is depression, and how does it affect people

There are many misconceptions about depression. It’s often thought of as simply feeling down or sad for a prolonged period, but it’s much more complex than that.

Depression is a serious mental illness that can cause a range of physical and psychological symptoms. These can include changes in sleep, appetite, energy levels, concentration, self-esteem, and libido. Depression can also lead to physical aches and pains, as well as thoughts of suicide.

For many people, these symptoms make it hard to function in their day-to-day lives, let alone maintain healthy relationships. The good news is that depression is treatable, and there are ways to cope with its effects on your relationships.

How does depression affect relationships – both personal and professional

1. Depression can make you withdraw from those you love

One of the most common ways that depression affects relationships is by causing the sufferer to withdraw from social activities and pull away from loved ones. This can be hard for friends and family members to understand and can often lead to feelings of rejection or abandonment.

Remember that this is not personal and that your loved one is likely struggling to cope with their depression. Offer support and understanding, but don’t be afraid to set boundaries if you need some space yourself.

2. Depression can make you lash out at those closest to you.

Another common symptom of depression is irritability or anger. This can cause even the most patient person to snap at loved ones over small things.

It’s important to remember that this is not how your loved one really feels and that they are likely struggling to control their emotions. Again, offer support and understanding, but don’t hesitate to seek outside help if the situation becomes too much to handle.

3. Depression causes you to lose interest in activities you once enjoyed.

Depression can lead to a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. This can put a strain on personal relationships, as friends and family members may feel like they are being left out.

This also includes a disinterest in intimacy with their partners. This can be a difficult thing to deal with, but it’s important to remember that it’s not personal. Be patient, understand their feelings, and try to find other ways to connect on a deeper level.

4. Depression can cause you to be emotionally unavailable.

Because of how depression affects how you feel, it can also make it hard to be emotionally available for those you love. This can make it difficult to communicate and connect with others.

For example, depressed people may have difficulty expressing their feelings or may avoid talking about their emotions altogether. This can make it difficult to maintain close relationships.

If you’re struggling with depression, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional. They can help you learn how to express yourself better and connect with those you love.

5. Depression can make you feel hopeless and helpless.

People struggling with depression often feel hopeless and helpless. This can make it difficult to take action in their lives, including working on their relationships.

It’s important to remember that these feelings are temporary and that they will eventually pass. In the meantime, try to focus on the positive aspects of your relationship and what you’re doing to improve it.

How can you help a loved one who is suffering from depression?

1. Talk to them about how you’re feeling.

If you’re struggling to deal with how depression affects your relationship, talk to your loved one about it. This can be a difficult conversation, but it’s important to express how you’re feeling.

Be sure to listen to their side as well and try to see things from their perspective. This will help you understand their feelings and how you can best support them.

2. Offer your support.

One of the best things you can do for a loved one suffering from depression is to offer your support. This may mean simply being there for them when they need to talk or helping out with day-to-day tasks like cooking and cleaning.

3. Encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional.

If your loved one is struggling to cope with their depression, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional or get treatment from a holistic treatment center for depression. This can be a difficult step, but it’s often necessary to get the help they need.

Show them your support by researching treatment options and providers together or accompanying them to appointments.

4. Help them stick to their treatment plan.

If your loved one is already in treatment, help them stick to their treatment plan. This may mean helping them take their medication as prescribed or attending therapy sessions.

5. Check in with them regularly.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone with depression is to simply check in with them regularly. This lets them know you care about how they’re doing and are there for them if they need to talk.

You can also offer to do things together, like walking or watching a movie. Just spending time together can be a big help.

Related: 8 Effective Alternative Treatments for Depression 

How do you know if you’re depressed – symptoms to look out for

If you’re wondering how to tell if you’re depressed, here are some common symptoms:

Feeling sad or down most of the time.

Take note of how you’ve been feeling lately. If you’ve been feeling sad, down, or hopeless for a prolonged period, it could be a sign of depression.

Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy.

Depression can cause you to lose interest in activities that you once enjoyed. This may include hobbies, social activities, and sex.

Changes in appetite or weight.

Depression can lead to changes in your eating habits, which can cause you to gain or lose weight. For example, you may find that you’re eating more or less than usual. This typically happens because depressed people either lose their appetite or overeat to cope with their feelings.

Problems sleeping.

Depression can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. This may be due to racing thoughts, worries about the future, or exhaustion from the day. As a result, you may find yourself feeling tired during the day.

Feeling tired or low on energy.

Depression can cause fatigue, even if you’re getting enough sleep. This is because depression can lead to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain that affects how you feel.

Conclusion

How does depression affect relationships? Depression can cause several problems in relationships, including communication difficulties, conflict, and feeling disconnected from your partner.

The good news is there are many treatment options available, and with the right help, most people with depression can improve their symptoms and live healthy, happy lives.

Sandy Villamor

Call me Sandy, a writer, and blogger of LifeStyleConvo & UrbanHouses, who worked as a full-time content creator. A writer by day and reader by night.