Sorry to post on here, just I’m feeling a little lost and have exhausted all other online resources. My partner has suffered with depressions on and off throughout his life. Recently he’s noticed it creeping back in and is becoming frustrated at not being able to pinpoint why.
I am doing my best to be there for him. Always being available to talk, listen and support him. I reassure him that I am not going anywhere, that I love him unconditionally and we’ll get through it together. But I cannot lie and say it is not affecting me. It is not something we want to broadcast to friends and family as we would rather deal with it privately. He is sleeping a lot more and has no energy. He’s started to distance himself from me, yet when we have friends and family over he appears to have such a great facade with them, laughing and joking. I’m trying not to take it personally. We had such a great relationship and connection, and now the dynamics are completely different. I know it’s the illness and I will always be there to support him but it is becoming really hard. I feel guilty as I know it is not about me and I always put him first but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t starting to struggle with it. I’m feeling very lonely in the relationship and I’m finding myself getting teary on the way to work, I get upset privately so that when I get home I can be strong for him, even though it feels as though he has no interest in me or us anymore. I’m scared the depression pushes us apart and that I’ll be the one clinging on for dear life. Is there anything else I can do to help this situation?