My DH has always struggled with mild depression and takes antidepressants, but over the last six months it has gotten a lot worse. Our GP has been great and have not only increased his medication but he has now been given sessions with a therapist (started three weeks ago, appointments every two weeks with exercises to do).
He's trying his hardest to work through this bout of deep depression, but I know he's struggling a lot. This is the worst I've seen him in over 20 years together.
He is determined to keep going to the office (he's self employed) and to coach our son's sports team as well as still go to family events (this weekend was our niece's 30th in London) because he fears that if he stops making the effort to get out of bed than things will get far far worse.
Here's my question - what advice can you lovely mumsnetters give to a partner on how to support their loved ones through deep depression? I'm trying my best to eliminate anything that I know might overwhelm him (so organisaing the kids logistics, sorting meal plans, doing the dog walks, cleaning the house/laundry, basically keeping on top of the usually shared domestic things). I know he doesn't always want to talk about what he's going through and I completely respect that. I tell him regularly how proud of him I am for getting help.
Last night I woke up at 2.30AM to hear him sobbing uncontrollably. He's a very proud man so I felt pretending to be asleep so as to not embarrass him was the best. It breaks my heart to see him so unhappy and I'm so proud of him for getting help via professionals, I just want to be as supportive of him as I can and for him to know I think the world of him.
We have two children (16 and 14) and I'm trying to shield them from this and they honestly don't know what he's going through. Hopefully this is the right approach as they both look up to him so much.
Any advice on how to support my very much loved husband is much appreciated.