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Not coping with depressed DP... Don't think I can stand it much longer.

63 replies

CheeryCherry · 31/08/2014 16:57

My DP has suffered on and off with stress, depression and panic attacks for the past two years. It is mainly due to his job and money worries - which we are trying to sort by selling the house. However he is not improving, he is managing to go to work most days but on weekends he refuses to get out of bed. I've had the most miserable summer holidays ever. The DCs are wonderful and are the only thing keeping me going. I have nobody to offload to - my mum is a carer for my dad and has enough on, my sister died and my brother has his own worries. I take the dog out, I try to stay bouyant....but it is too hard at the moment. I just feel so lonely.I've tried telling him how I feel and he says sorry but then recoils back to himself. I know it's a selfish illness but I feel unloved, uncared for and unappreciated. I try to be patient, let him talk, give him time and space, then sometimes get stroppy and make him get up. I don't know what else I can do. The Dr says just keep talking the tablets, and he went on a CBT type course but didn't put anything into practice. I'd rather he moved out I think as I'd feel less stressed myself. But he'd have nowhere to go - the mil is a nightmare herself. Sorry this is epic. How would you cope?

OP posts:
gildedcage · 07/09/2014 22:05

grace please know that I have been where you are. The difference being though that my husband actually spoke with his parents about how he felt and never once blamed me for it.

Your right when you say that he is manipulating you. Being depressed is not a green light to treat your spouse badly.

I had an amazing counsellor...after I'd been signed off work for two months with stress caused by exactly this. You're own mental health will suffer if you do not accept that you're not in control here. You are not the cause, you can't change it, that is only in your husband's power but he has to accept that he has a problem before he can ask for help.

gildedcage · 07/09/2014 22:06

your not you're. ..sorry stupid phone

grace2010 · 07/09/2014 22:37

I do have counselling gilded, and he is in treatment, although that brings it's own side effects in the lack of sex and discernible emotion.

CheeryCherry · 08/09/2014 06:54

grace it sounds like you are doing all you can at the moment and maybe just need to ride the waves for now...easier said than done I know. Would he go back to his gp? I totally agree that there is no way of talking about it in RL as no one would believe it - it is like a huge act of 'we're fine' when behind closed doors it is NOT fine. I sometimes think of telling mil to get her off our back a little, she is forever demanding attention which is an additional stress. But I know she would stress and fuss more, so it would backfire. Hoping you all have a better day today. Small steps huh?

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Georgethesecond · 08/09/2014 07:49

I don't think he can really be certain that he isn't depressed, because he is taking antidepressants. But you're right, I'm doing all I can.

I'm lying about it too, to others. I was on the phone to my parents last night - "we're all fine, yes..."

gildedcage · 08/09/2014 08:04

George I did that as well. My mum knew something wasn't right but I kept saying that everything was fine. Even when my husband was having a total breakdown. Eventually it got too much and I rang her in tears. Try and talk to someone in RL who can put an arm around you.

The only way that I had to feel more like me was to accept only I can make me happy. That I had to stop looking to him for that. I know that you used to be very close but obviously that isn't there now. That may come back but for now you have to do something for you. I know that its a long journey from your head to your heart though.

sanfairyanne · 08/09/2014 08:19

looks like dh is heading back this way (seems to start in autumn)
i am just going to focus on me n the kids this time. the closeness has not totally come back after the last time and i cant see this doing our relationship much good. i feel quite hard this time round Sad

grace2010 · 08/09/2014 08:42

It does toughen you up

Stupidhead · 08/09/2014 08:54

Cheery, I've skipped posts so apologies to anyone I may be snubbing. My DP was like in Spring, he was on meds but due to a couple of massive things happening just slipped down into a black hole. I ended up calling the crisis team who were amazing. They changed his meds, came out that night and every night for about 2 weeks. I was raising my children, working shifts (not knowing whether he's be up or down when I got home), trying to keep everyone happy apart from myself. During the last week of visits, two nurses came out. One talked to him again and the other one turned to me and said 'and how are you feeling?'. I just burst into tears that somebody cared. It shook him up (in a good way) and I was given a list of counsellors and meetings just for me. In the end I didn't need them, his new meds kicked in and everything is amazing. They're very gentle and it took a while to get the dosage right for him. Sometimes you just need help for yourself, a kind word even. Get the doctor to see about changing his ad's and take a long selfish bath. You ARE amazing x

gildedcage · 08/09/2014 09:28

San I think that you're right to think of you and the overall happiness of your family. Keep posting if it helps x

VinoTime · 08/09/2014 10:00

I understand everything you said in your OP.

Ex dp (dd's dad) was suffering from depression before I broke it off. I literally couldn't take it anymore. He would sit with his face tripping him if he was 'up', some days he didn't bother getting up, any time I asked what he fancied doing the standard response was a sullen "dunno", he stopped vocalising at times and would just shrug his shoulders at me. Any time I came home he'd be quietly pissed off at me for doing something without him, despite being asked to come and not wanting to. Sometimes he went days without washing or showering and took no pride in his appearance whatsoever (dirty, rumpled clothes, not shaving for days and days, no deodorant, hair a complete greasy mess, stopped brushing his teeth). He would get annoyed at me if I ever spoke to anybody on the phone or while we were in town because we were talking about things he hadn't been a part of (though he was always invited).

Honestly, it got to the point where I would look at him and feel such seething rage. I completely fell out of love with him and at times, he absolutely disgusted me. All attraction was lost in the end. And maybe that was really, really awful of me. But I couldn't help it. He wasn't bothered about helping himself and was dragging me down with him. I may have loved him at one point, but I had to love myself more and get the fuck away from him. It wasn't healthy for me to be around him anymore.

He can't help the way he feels, OP, but he can try to help himself out of the hole he's in. And he owes it to his family to to do that. If he's not prepared to try, you and the DC shouldn't have to suffer the consequences.

CheeryCherry · 10/09/2014 12:56

Vino that must have been a terrible time, and you acted in self preservation, that is surely a vital lifeline. My DH is not in the same state as your ex was, he appears ok in RL, is functioning at a basic level, but he just cannot give any more once his day at work is done. I hope you are getting back on track yourself now.
I have spotted the support thread by grace, which is a great idea for more MNers to get involved. Will try do the link!

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