Hi,
My DP and I have been together 12 years. No kids. Both work full time. Both late 40s.
He has a history of depression, was on medication for 5 years but weaned slowly off them 9 months ago due to significant side effects affecting his libido.
He’d generally been doing well. However, we had a really stressful family situation early last month (now resolved) but it seems to have triggered him back into depression.
The last 4-5 weeks have been really difficult for him and home life feels really stressful.
His mood is really flat, he’s got zero tolerance and zero interest in doing his usual hobbies.
We’ve had a few frank conversations and he is waiting for a GP appointment. He doesn’t want to go back on tablets due to the side effects (which I understand) but he’s reluctant to engage in talking therapies or look at other things like exercise which might help. I understand that this is part of being depressed and I’m trying really hard to support him but it’s really starting to drag me down. We’re having another tense weekend and I’m starting to feel like I don’t want to be at home. His great passion is fishing so he’s often away for a couple of nights at the weekend (which suits me fine as we both thrive on our own space).
He’s not interested in fishing at the moment so is at home all the time when not working… He’s not very good at entertaining himself at the best of times when he hasn’t got anything to do but I feel like I’m organising things to do to try and prevent things worsening at home.
I know this isn’t about me at all and am really trying to support him. It’s starting to feel like it’s at the expense of my mental health a bit.
I love my job but it can be intense (I work with people who have had life changing surgery after cancer) and all I want is a day at home on my own with our dog.
thanks for reading if you’ve got this far… just looking to vent I guess