As anyone who has ever read any post of mine knows, I have the bestest best friend in all the world. :3
But he has a girlfriend, who also has depression. And her depression has gotten really, really bad of late. So bad in fact that she is taking basically 100% of his time and energy, to the point where he doesn't even have time for himself anymore. So. Well. He doesn't have time to keep up with me hardly at all. We've talked about it some. I've been angry with him, illogically of course, because I know he can't help it. Currently what I really want is to find some way to maintain a relationship with him that is not composed of quick emotional catch up sessions. I want my friend more than I want an unofficial therapist. And so that's something I'm working on.
Not that he's abandoning me. He's not. We get together in person at least once or twice a week, and generally don't go over a day without texting. But he's not nearly as present as he used to be, not nearly, and that has taken a tremendous toll on me. He knows it has and he feels a lot of guilt about that. I tell him that I can't say it's ok, because it's not, but that I don't blame him and I know that it isn't his fault.
Side note, I'm also really scared that his own emotional state will fall apart under the weight of his girlfriend and me. Almost two years ago but not quite, he was hospitalized for depression himself, twice. He's still taking medication in fact. So I'm worried about him too here.
Anyway. What was my point here.
I guess that just, other people are basically necessary for mental health, and I'm not saying that other people will necessarily ever leave you. He is certainly still present in my life. But. Other people are not medicine. In the end, it's still you and depression. No one else can fight that battle for you.