How can i tell if DH is depressed, Please help me!

[jinglediddle]

My DH is very very down, i am pretty convinced he is.
He is often moody and shouting, close to tears a lot, loses his temper over the tiniest thing and takes most things the wrong way, then gets angry or upset.
He has often talked about wishing he is dead.
he doesn't sleep particularly well, and wakes early even at weekends.

He won't go to the doctors about it, i think because he will either get put on tablets or signed of work, which he doesn't have the time for. Or both.
I think he agrees he has depression although finds it hard to talk about with me face to face.
I wish i could help him, has anyone else been in this position? can you offer any advice? or know of any good websites i can look at?
If he won't see anyone i want to know how i can bring him out of this.

It sounds like he's depressed to me - the symptoms of depression can include mood swings, irritability, insomnia and weepiness.

The big problem with depression is that it doesn't go away on its own, but if he would see the GP it can be treated very easily and he could be feeling normal again within a couple of months. I do think that he should see the GP - he will probably be offered tablets, but won't be signed off work if he doesn't want to be. If he really won't see anyone, would he consider taking something like St John's Wort? It can be quite effective for mild depression - not so good for more severe cases.

I know depression can just hit for no reason, but is there any cause in this case that you can think of? I ask because my dh is Australian and gets the seasonal disorder thingy in winter. He doesn't take anything for it but I was just thinking along the lines of, if your dh won't go to the GP, is there anything else you or he could do to makes things more bearable?

thanks wigwambam - will try the st johns wort with him, worth a try, and i think telling him hs doc won't sign him off if he doesn't want to be may encourage him to see a doc. i'm gonna keep trying.

He definitely sounds depressed to me. I would urge him to go to the gp. My BIL has depression and left it untreated - he had a break down and was off work for 2 months. The longer you leave it untreated the worse it can get. Sorry to sound so gloomy. Also look at his diet - there's loads of info on the web about 'mood foods' - foods that perk you up. Exercise is important too - my BIL was advised to exercise 3 times a week for the endorphins it gives you.

well he is very down about the house at the moment, nothing is going right with it right now and decorating is taking ages we can't afford to do it all at once. and i now that gets him down, and he's right it is depressing. nothing recent has happened, but i have suffered 2 miscarriages earlier this year which definityl effected him although they were 6 and 11 motnhs ago, i am now pregnant again. could be worry i guess. I am trying to make the house as welcoming and cheerful as possible from now on, so hopefully that will help.

thanks merrycompo very good advice, not gloomy will definitly look these up.

also getting out into the fresh air at this time of year is very important as we don't get much sunshine

no problem really feel for you xxx