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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Desperately need advice - depressed boyfriend

100 replies

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 14:30

This is going to be a long one so I apologise in advance.
I don't know if I'm in the right place for this, I have been with my boyfriend for just over a year. When we met, he was attentive, caring, affectionate both physically and emotionally. He left me in no doubt that he wanted to be with me, when I spoke he listened, when I didn't he'd ask me questions to learn more about me. This continued for about 6 months, we had such a good honeymoon period, then, he began to change.
It went from him texting or calling me (evenly balanced) to me always texting or calling, often he won't reply or answer the phone. I'm always the one arranging things and mostly we just stay in, he doesn't want to go out, a few months ago he told me he's sinking back into a depressive state (he's been depressed twice previously) I asked him what I could do and he told me nothing, he asked me not to try and help him or it could cause problems.
I'm sure it's his depression that's changed him, he hardly speaks to me anymore, when I do speak I'm told what I'm saying isn't interesting, his favourite question is "is what you're about to say going to interest me" and then I'll be told a more interesting story from his life. If I try to start a conversation I'm told he doesn't want deep conversations, I've seen him texting another woman we both know, she keeps asking how he is etc but he keeps saying she's asking him for favours. He says this a lot, and I know he's lying to me, he says there's another girl who texts him bothering him but, again I know it's a lie (when he's been drinking he's honest and tells me the truth) We aren't having sex anymore, which I understand is a side effect of depression, he's not on any medication, nor is he seeing a counsellor or equivalent. He's told me he's busy most days this week so I've had to leave relatively early each morning, yesterday I left then about an hour later had to drive past his house (it's on a main road) and his car was still outside, he told me he was leaving straight after me.
I love this man, and I know he loves me. He will do anything for anyone usually. I know this is the depression but I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. I feel like a burden in his life and by wanting to see him I'm adding to the pressures in his life. He keeps telling me I seem to have a lot of drama in my life recently (I don't) and that he used to like I had no drama, I talk to him about a situation that upsets me and I'm told I'm making him feel pretty shit.
Can anyone offer any advice how to support him and give him his space without losing him? He's begun to make me feel so crap when I'm with him and I don't want this to cause a rift between us. The fact he has depression doesn't scare me off, they fact he's building this wall and blocking me out but not others makes me think we could be close to the end.
I've tried not texting or calling, he then doesn't text or call, I've tried calling him out on it and I got told his life was shit and that I shouldn't give him an ultimatum.
This is overflowing into my other relationships in life, I'm constantly thinking of him wondering how to make this better and what form of him I'll be seeing later that evening.
I don't know how to fix this, I know I can't fix him and depression takes time, but how do I make sure our relationship becomes stronger for this?

OP posts:
category1 · 15/08/2015 19:53

It sounds like he's got someone else on the go or is reeling them in, to me, and that you're just a convenience in the meantime.

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 20:34

You are right Gabillan, he has to want to change, I think next time i see him (hopefully tomorrow) I'm going to be straight and ask him about the depression, I'm going to ask him if he minds me asking him about it (because there are some subjects he just shuts down completely) and then sensitively ask him what I can do, if I can do anything and try to see how he feels about counselling? How does that sound? I can't walk away without at least trying and then if he carries on I'm going to try to get the strength to walk away. I miss who he used to be so much he was such a good man.
Category - he definitely hasn't got anyone else on the go, I have a pretty good guy instinct with those sort of things, and I've been seeing the texts (over his shoulder and only at a glance admittedly) he's sending to the girls he's friends with, there aren't texts from other girls. In my confusion I may also have gone into his Facebook and searched through the profiles of certain girls Hmm not something I'm proud of, but I know he isn't cheating. I trust him completely in that aspect.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 20:40

It stil feels to me - even in the way he's gradually withdrawing from your family (did that coincide with his change towards you at all?) - that he's been playing nice to 'fix' you as people used to with specimens and now he has you 'pinned' so he's free to let loose on you. I've known people with clinical depression and they were none of them either shits or people who acted like shits even when they were in its thrall. That doesn't mean that he isn't demonstrating symptoms but his refusal to countenance treatment is very suspect in my eyes - I wouldn't be basing my actions solely on the words of a known liar.

He seems to be treating you very badly indeed, not just being self-centred (to an extraordinary degree) but being actively cruel. I would most certainly not enter into any house purchase with him and I think in your position, hard though it might be, I would leave immediately and say that I would consider returning only when he had been for evidenced diagnosis and treatment. That's a 'consider'.

You sound as if you now feel totally responsible for his well-being?

cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 20:43

x post.

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 20:48

Cozie - (I can't figure out how to tag people in these threads) thinking on it, his attitude to my family did begin to change around the time his behaviour changed. Yet, this is the time that he said he was beginning to spiral into depression again. We were still doing things with sister and sister in law, so it's not necessarily that, I just think it took a lot of energy for him to connect with my family for a few months - because my brother went alpha male and because he feels like he doesn't fit in with my family, we are from very different backgrounds.
He is being very self centred, I completely agree, but it is out of character, on his good days, he's so caring and so attentitive, for example he'll always make sure I'm ok if I'm out with my girlfriends and offers me a lift home. I do agree about the house purchase until this whole thing has been figured out, I want a house for my own security, not to tie myself to someone who may not be right for me.
I am worried to an extent that if I walk away he will spiral further into depression, I do try and change my behaviour around him so as not to add to the pressure on him, I want to be able to support him and be there for him. I know I can't fix him, that's not on me, he needs to get help but I'd like to be able to be there for him while he works through this. I do really love him and believe he loves me.

OP posts:
sanityforlunch · 15/08/2015 20:49

So why doesn't he want to see you on a Saturday night?

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 20:51

He needs time to himself, he has been very busy for the past couple of weeks and I can see the strain it's been having on him

OP posts:
VerityWaves · 15/08/2015 20:54

He really is treating you v badly. You can do better than this you're worth more !

sanityforlunch · 15/08/2015 20:56

What is he actually doing this evening? Watching tv, going to the pub, what? Are you sure he is at home alone?

I think you are being very understanding, too much so. He is pushing you away. I know that is a symptom of depression but how much of that can you take? how far will he go before you think he is taking the mick?

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 20:57

The awful thing is. I know that I'm worth more but I don't want to give up on him. I believe this isn't the depression, I just want to know if maybe it's a catalyst to all this?

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 20:57

I seem to recall a PP saying something about taking 'the depression' out of the equation and if you do that, then you're still painting the picture of a deeply unpleasant man who is attempting to get you under control. Even your statement that 'for example he'll always make sure I'm ok if I'm out with my girlfriends and offers me a lift home' can be read in that way, I'm afraid, and not as you say it - with hope in your voice.

You have to be confident eg that he actually has a diagnosis (and what it's for), has started a treatment program of some description and established what part you can play in that treatment. Anything less than that and I'd be walking because at best it would surely show that he's not interested in recovery and ensuring your happiness. At worst ? Well..........

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 20:58

I believe he's at home alone, I have things there, it would be too much work for him to hide everything of mine away.
I don't know how long I will allow this to go on for, I do know I need to talk to him, I cannot just write him off. He means too much to me.

OP posts:
Footle · 15/08/2015 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gabilan · 15/08/2015 21:00

"I am worried to an extent that if I walk away he will spiral further into depression"

But you can't stay with him to stop his depression.

I finally got a diagnosis and treatment when I hit rock bottom. If I'd been in a relationship I might not have hit rock bottom and so might have carried on, leaning on a partner, pulling them down as well as me and never getting the help I actually needed.

Sure, talk to him about the help that is available and encourage him to get help, but don't sacrifice yourself for him.

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 21:02

I know I'm bit painting him very well here Cozie, he really is a good guy. No he isn't treating me well right now and yes taking the depression out of it does portray him as an unhappy man. I agree, I need to find out if he's going to get counselling potentially even get him to promise he will. Otherwise this probably won't work but I do need to be careful how I broach that particular topic, he is not a talker when it comes to these things and I am, sometimes that can cause problems.
I know I mentioned previously that I wondered if he could become an abuser, but truthfully I do not believe he would. He is a good man.

OP posts:
100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 21:04

I don't plan on sacrificing myself for him, I know that I'm not ready to walk away yet. I need to try for this, for him, for us. I still believe if I talk to him he will realise what he has been doing to me. If he doesn't, then I will have to consider walking away, I just want to show him I'm not walking away and I'm not scared to be with him because he has depression. He will not lose me because he is mentally ill, if he continues to treat me poorely, then I will have to consider walking away.

OP posts:
sanityforlunch · 15/08/2015 21:05

I would be highly insulted if my bf of a year wanted 'time to himself' on a Saturday night and I would tell him where to get off.

cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 21:05

...I know I mentioned previously that I wondered if he could become an abuser, but truthfully I do not believe he would. He is a good man....

Are you a happy person or someone who is very nearly at the end of their tether?

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 21:08

Sanity - I don't mind him having time alone, sometimes I need time alone I'm not the sort of person who needs to be with my partner in every free moment, I've been this way in all my relationships.
Cozie - sometimes I'm happy, sometimes, like this morning whilst I was laying in bed next to him and he felt so distant, I'm sad, I'm truly deeply sad and unhappy, but I'm unhappy because I can't broach the gap, until he gets help for his depression I wonder if I can? I'm not quite at the end of my tether yet, I know I sound weak and I'm sorry for that, but I'm not there.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 21:09

...I don't plan on sacrificing myself for him...

Actually, you've done very well to come here to talk about it. Many people would just have gone down with the ship - so I believe that in a sense. You need to be clear, though, that the work doesn't stop at awareness but that action is needed also.

sanityforlunch · 15/08/2015 21:11

Fair enough yes we all need time to ourselves but he cancelled your plans to spend the evening together and now you are home alone analysing it all on here.

thehypocritesoaf · 15/08/2015 21:11

You've got a boyfriend who for half of your relationship has made you feel crap, can't be bothered to listen to you, text you or even see you and you want advice on how to keep this thing going?

Oh dear op. You are in denial.

cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 21:12

x post.

You need to act firmly and quickly then. People who are close to the end of their tether often think to themselves something along the line of 'I'm strong, I've come this far, I can keep going' - and then promptly collapse. You can't predict when it will come and knowing it might come doesn't seem to delay it.

Act while you're strong enough to do it.

100thattemptatausername · 15/08/2015 21:13

Yes, I do need to take steps here.
My plan of action is to talk to him. I will see him tomorrow (I won't deny that I'm worried he won't want to see me, this can happen sometimes) I will ask him if he's comfortable talking about the depression and if I can ask him some questions about it. I will ask him if he will be having counselling as he's not keen on the antidepressants and then I will ask him if he's still serious about us, because this relationship can't continue if he isn't willing to put some work in.
I hope the conversation goes the way I want it to, because I will have no other option to walk away after that and I don't believe in strong enough to.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 15/08/2015 21:16

Good luck. There are usually people here to talk to if you need to afterwards.