7 Tips for Supporting a Partner with Anxiety and Depression

Many people suffer from anxiety and depression, but it can be difficult to understand what is going on with your partner. This blog post will discuss seven different ways that you can support someone who suffers from these issues.

Firstly, what is anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry or fear. It can cause physical symptoms such as shaking and difficulty breathing. Anxiety causes people to feel on edge and it can change how they react to things around them.
Depression can be understood as a feeling of sadness. It can make people feel hopeless about their future and it can cause anxiety as well.

While reaching out to someone with anxiety or depression can’t cure them, social and emotional support can remind them they’re not alone.

The first thing you should do in order to support someone who suffers from anxiety and depression is research the issue yourself. This will allow you to understand what your partner might be going through, which will help with understanding them better too!

7 Tips for supporting a partner with anxiety or depression:

Tip #1 – Have compassion & Understanding
It’s more important for you to be genuinely caring than to say all the right things. Listen without judgement and offer emotional support. Your loved one needs additional, consistent love and understanding, so be empathetic, compassionate and patient. Let them know there is no risk of abandonment.

Tip #2 – Help them create healthy habits
Eating well, exercising and sleeping enough. Establishing a daily, weekly and monthly routine can be stabilizing and comforting.

Tip #3 – Spend time with them
Encourage them to try new things so they stay engaged in the world around them.
Reassure your loved one that with time and treatment, they will feel better. Offer emotional support and hope for a more positive future.

Tip # 4 – Never offer any form of judgment about anxiety or depression
Anxiety or depression is not their fault. You should never blame them, and they shouldn’t blame themselves. It’s a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be managed with therapy and medication.

Tip #5 – Provide practical help.
This can be anything from helping them catch up on chores or organization to going with them to the doctor. Be careful not to take over or encourage dependency. Respect the person’s independence while considering the extent to which the person can make their own personal decisions.

Tip #6 – What not to say
Just think happy thoughts. I don’t understand what you have to be so sad about.”
“Everything will be OK, I promise.”
“I cut out sugar and I was cured! You should try it.”
“You just need to snap out of this.”
“So many people out there are worse off than you.”

Tip #7 – What to say
Do you want to talk about it? I’m here when you’re ready.
What can I do to help today?
How are you managing? How is your anxiety/depression?
You’re not alone. I may not understand exactly how you feel, but you’re not alone.
You’re important to me.
That sounds like it’s really hard. How are you coping?
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I’m here for you if you need me.

Remember that your partner’s mental health issues are not your fault and you cannot “fix” them. Your partner really just wants reassurance that you are walking the journey with them. Strongly consider recommending a professional Therapist to assist your partner.

We hope the above tips will help you better understand how to support your partner.
TherapyNow online counselling provides a variety of professional mental health services via any device on any internet connection. We make it easy to get help when you need it most – so that anyone who struggles with life’s challenges can receive assistance anytime, anywhere and at an affordable rate.

Learn about online therapy today. Connect with an online therapist in South Africa. Others find online therapy to be a convenient and affordable option. An online therapy consultation can help you find a good fit so that you can start feeling better today.