[Sunshine78]

Hello there!
I've been dating my wonderful awesome boyfriend for 9 months now. I told him of my depression about 4 months ago. Now it's taking a turn for the worse and my depression has gotten worse. I have been to the doctor and I'm in a transition period now.

My boyfriend is being super supportive, but when I tell him on some of my more severe days/nights, that I sit up at night feeling like I'm going crazy he doesnt' get it.

Is there any advice anyone can give on how to help your partner understand what depression is?!

[silver_moon]

Hi and welcome to pc
I've been through/still going through a similar thing. It can take a while to get used to something like this.
You said he was being supportive and that's great. My boyfriend (of 20 months) is very supportive of me, but still finds it very difficult when I'm at my worst. He loves me and that is one of the reasons why he find's it difficult when I'm feeling suicidal because it scares him and he's unsure what to do incase he makes me worse. Another reason is because he hasn't been in my shoes... noone will understand what it is like to feel the way you do unless they have been depressed themselves.
I told my boyfriend everything about my depression, all my feelings etc. and how I tried to deal with it myself... like going for a run etc and he learnt more about the way I thought when I'm depressed and some ways I try and deal with it and he tried to get me to do the things that help. I also gave him some booklets my councillor gave me to see if he understood that way. He also reads what I write here on pc (you might not find that helpful, but I think my feelings come out more when I'm talking to people who are going through the same things, so he not only knows how I feel, but what other people are suggesting too)

Sorry I wrote a lot and i hope I've helped in some way. If not, I'm sure someone else will have some ideas.

Molly

[trippinmickey]

Been with my wife for over 20 years and she still has a hard time when I cycle down it got really bad like 5 years ago.I thought that my dep. was only hurting me but I was wrong it hurts everyone that cares about they feel helpless to help you . They have groups out there that not only support you but loves dealing with someone with dep.the best you could give him info. on dep. weather on-line or in books so he can better understand what you are going though and ways he can help though it.. Your dep. is just apart of who you are and there nothing wrong with that..I