After being single for years, about 4 months ago, at the grand old age of 47, after lots of dire dating, I finally met this great bloke (OLD). The connection was very quick, on both sides and all parts of the relationship seemed great. After about 2 months, we had a sort of exclusivity talk, but as he is a serial monogamist (18 yr relationship (with the mother of his kids), then a 5 yr one) he just presumed that we were together for the foreseeable and that was that. All was good so I was pretty happy with that myself.
Now for the BUT (clue in subject)...I last saw him 4 weeks ago. When he told me that he was going into a depressive episode. He has had one attack before about a year ago and by his account it was pretty severe, lasting a couple of months. He seemed glad to talk about it, I felt like I helped a lot by just listening, but he did say that it effectively stops him from wanting to talk to anyone.
What's now happened is that communication has basically trickled down to a once a week text (from daily texting). I am being supportive (as much as I can by text - I really don't want to ring as it feels far too intrusive - I have done this a few times and he never answers anyway) -saying I hope he is okay, that I am happy for him to talk to me, that I care about him etc. But it is a bit like talking to a brick wall - no reply, no anything, unless I ask a direct question about various plans and then I get a very formal (and negative) reply.
Now, I can understand this completely. I have friends with depression, I have read up on it and my issue isn't with the depression itself, it is to do with what to actually do now... We have only been together 4 months, which really isn't long enough to put down proper foundations of a relationship. I like him a lot, but how long do I keep being supportive with no real response? My sensible head tells me to just leave it - it is a horrible disease, he is likely to be out of action for months, I'm really not his priority and, tbh, I have my own child to consider but, OTOH, he is a great bloke, I care about him a lot/want to be supportive and, tbh, there aren't that many great blokes around at my age. I don't want to wake up in ten years time and regret not making more effort. As it says in the title - WWYD..? Many thanks for any advice and congrats for making it this far!