Question:
I have been in my current relationship for three years now. My boyfriend suffers from depression. Basically I have to walk on eggshells just to keep him from “slipping” into that dark place. We’ve been through this before and give or take a few days he snaps out of it. I don’t want to end our relationship over this. I have never lived with someone who has mental issues. We have too much history between us and it would hurt us too much if it ended because of this. I want to help him, but how?
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Answer:
You may not actually want to end your relationship, but the thought has crossed your mind, hasn’t it? It’s very stressful to have to walk on eggshells around someone’s moods. It’s not the sort of situation that anyone signs up for. It would show thoughtfulness on your boyfriend’s part if he owned up to his moodiness and sought treatment for it. It’s not like there aren’t reasonably effective treatments for depression these days (medications and psychotherapy both). If it were me, I’d talk to him about how difficult he can be, and ask him, firmly and compassionately, to get some help. I’d base further decisions as to what to do on whether he decides to go for help or not.
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