Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

dating a guy with depression

11 replies

dippyd123 · 17/08/2015 18:22

Hi ladies, sorry its me again and the same guy :(

Hes having/had his first councilling session today not heard from him yet not really sure whether I should pry or not.

Just wondering really if anyone else has been in a relationship with someone. I dont think its in the bad stages but apparenly been very low for quite a while now, and has bad paranoia. Didnt know any of this when got with him but now I know things are making sence.

Ive had councilling myself as a teenager so I can relate a little bit, but its hard when he wont really open up about the cause or anything to me.

His mum as advised him to not be in a relationship at moment and he said he agreed with her but doesnt want to loose me.

Has anyones relationships worked out ok?

OP posts:
Smilingforth · 17/08/2015 18:53

Depression is just like any other illness. You can be in a relationship but the partner must be very patient.

BobbiTheCynicalPanda · 17/08/2015 18:59

Haven't seen your previous thread(s).
Is this dating per your title or is it an established relationship?

britneyspearscatsuit · 17/08/2015 19:15

No offence to smolingforth but I don't think being in a relationship with someone with depression is anything at all like if they have any other illness.

This is a mental illness and changes (hopefully temporarily) the fabric of who someone is.

At best they are tired, grumpy, off sex, unnaffectionate, tearful, hopeless, uninterested in you, uninterested in anything, their perspective of you and your relationship is skewed and they are detatched.

That's pretty horrible to live with.

At worst they are angry, blaming, nasty, manipulative, lose all feelings of "love" for you completely, turn to porn, alcohol or affairs to try and feel something again and generally break you down completely.

I am not saying every depressed person behaves that way, but certainly some do. It's enough of a "thing" for there to be books on it (Depression Fallout for example) and websites on it (Storied Mind for example).

For the most part it can feel like treading on eggshells and sadly in men the symptoms can be very diferrent to women and the sadness and lethergy can be replaced with blame and aggression.

When my ex partner was deperssed he acted like he hated me and I was his enemy and it turned out he blamed me completely for his illness.

It can be an absolutely horrible illness that can strip a person completely of who they were.

I read quite a few threads on here where people say "depression doesn;t make you do that or behave like an abusive arsehole". In fact I used to believe that too until it happenned to me. It is a hidden epidemic. Google the "unnofficial symptoms of depression" and it is exactly what I lived through as well as many people from an onlien support group who experienced the same.

I am sorry OP but I feel if he is not sharing with you and acting paranoid he might well be casting you as the villain in his counselling sessions.

techgirl · 17/08/2015 19:44

It can work out, we have been together 20 years and have 2 kids. Dp was depressed enough to need meds and counselling early in our living together, after we'd been together for a couple of years. While it's never been that bad since he fairly regularly has low moods though always short term. It is a hopeful sign if he is going for counselling, my dp was slow to do so and i was close to threatening to leave. My experience is that there is no point in expecting sharing on this, certainly while they are depressed. No amount of being supportive etc actually helps, not that you shouldn't try, but it is perfectly possible for people to recover. It is sensible to decide what your tolerance limits are and you aren't obliged to stay if things get actively abusive.

MrsJorahMormont · 17/08/2015 19:57

Excellent post Britney. I totally agree that depression can make people into arse holes. It's like it boosts all the worst parts of yourself - and because you're not normally like that you recognise you are being a hateful arse hole - which of course gives the depression more to give you a kicking about. Vicious circle.

OP if you are not involved yet my advice is don't go there, at least not yet. Counselling isn't a magic bullet and this guy has a long road ahead of him. Be a friend to him. He knows himself that he shouldn't be in a relationship.

dippyd123 · 17/08/2015 22:03

Thank you for replies agree fully. Like i said i suffered a little with bad anxiety as a teenager and pnd a few years ago and u know others who have had it. Just not sure how to deal with a bf suffering.

Been dating since febuary known each other longer had been flirting etc. But hes been very hot and cold recently had bit of a break from each other but back on.i know he had an hard time in his last relationship and hes spoke about bad bullying growing up and family deaths aswell as problems with drugs in his teens early 20s which he had help for back then said he hasnt touched anythig for 7 years and i believe him.

Thing is although know hes been down in the dumps he never showed just how down when alone with me we have a laugh and he genuinely seems happy but then when were not together and he rings hes sometimes like a different guy

OP posts:
gildedcage · 17/08/2015 22:07

Ultimately people with depression are like the rest of humanity, we are all individuals and no two cases will be exactly the same.

I understand that you are looking for reassurance that he will get better and everything will be good. However in my experience it takes a long time and depression strips someone of the essence of what makes them them...which is actually heartbreaking and very hard to live with.

If he feels that he needs to focus on getting well at the moment I think that you should respect that. Depression makes people selfish...at the heart of things it's all about how they feel. That's not great for relationships. Honestly let him deal with things and it's meant to be he'll find you, but as a person states I wouldn't be surprised to find that you are being painted as the villain of the piece.

Try to think of you. I wish you well.

TheOldWiseOne · 18/08/2015 07:54

britneyspearcatsuit every word you write is sadly true...as you say a "hidden epidemic" which is not always visible to outsiders..

heyday · 18/08/2015 08:20

The fact that he has depression can make a relationship challenging enough but major alarm bells would be ringing for me due to the fact that he has paranoia too. This is a young relationship and hopefully you can step back now and form some space between you both. He has a lot to deal with and his journey through councelling could we'll be a long, difficult and painful one and he way we'll go down to even deeper depths of depression as he goes over past issues and pain in his life.
Take time to evaluate what you really want from your life. If you continue in a relationship with this man you could be in for a lifetime of difficulty and heartbreak. Take things very slowly and see how things pan out.

BobbiTheCynicalPanda · 18/08/2015 09:02

Ok so I see you've known him since February. Given that information, I agree with heyday, he may well get a lot worse before he improves.

BugEyedBeans · 19/08/2015 10:41

If a friend is depressed but seeking help, meds and counseling etc, what is the best way to support them?
Points taken above about protecting yourself in the process.
Thankx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread