So rather than rushing to save the day when your partner is experiencing anxiety, it’s better to be patient and reassure them that everything is okay. Remember, you don’t have to learn everything there is to know about your partner’s anxiety in one conversation. While you can read information online on what it’s like to live with anxiety, you’re not going to get the full picture of what it’s really like for your partner. Communication is key when you are in a relationship with someone who is struggling with an anxiety disorder.
Listen to understand
Remember, any relationship—not just with someone with OCD—is about balancing your personal needs with the relationship’s needs. Never assume that other people in your partner’s life know they have OCD. If you are dating someone with OCD, one of the best things you can do is learn more about the condition. Being more aware of what your partner may be experiencing can help you better recognize the signs of problems and allow you to offer support when you see they are struggling. Knowing what to expect if you are dating someone with OCD or if you think your partner might have the condition is essential. By understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatments of the condition, you’ll be better able to help your partner and maintain a successful relationship.
Some of the most creative, sensitive, and loving people also have anxiety disorders, and it’s likely that you will find yourself dating someone with anxiety at some point in your life. While it can be difficult at times to navigate a relationship with someone who has anxiety, putting https://onlinedatingcritic.com/ in the effort to do so has many rewards. While dating someone with a mental illness can place a heavy focus on your partner’s symptoms and needs, you must not lose yourself along the way. Remember to practice self-care and establish your wants and needs with your partner.
Goals may shift and change
When someone lives with depression, it may increase their risk of self-harm or suicide. Recent statistics show that 12 million people per year think about suicide, and 1.4 million people attempt suicide in the United States alone. Emotional manipulation is sometimes difficult to spot.
It can also make dating, which is tricky enough, even more complex and take a serious toll on the relationship you’re establishing and growing. In some couples, the non-depressed partner starts doing the brunt of the chores, like making dinner, paying the bills, and cleaning up, says San. “You can end up with a kind of secondary gain as a depressed person,” she says. “You gain not having to do things, which is bad for various reasons.” Pushing your partner to pitch in doesn’t just take the burden off you—it also gets them active as well. Because depression can lead to feelings of detachment, you might feel like your partner is starting to lose interest.
And the way you can help is by re-framing anxiety as something that needs to be accepted and is a natural human experience, rather than a scary force that must be avoided. Patience – Continue developing an acceptance attitude and facing anxiety. Eventually, anxiety will become less and less over time. A big mistake that many people make is that they think that the best way to deal with anxiety is find comfort and safety. The best thing for them to do is to accept anxiety as part of who they are and then they can move on with their life. They know that their anxiety is tough to deal with, but trying to change it will only make it worse.
So, don’t make assumptions about what’s making your partner depressed. At some point in the relationship, your partner will likely disclose that they deal with depression. Encourage them to talk about their feelings, but respect their boundaries. Understanding what the symptoms of OCD are and where they come from can go a long way in helping you cope with them and bring down the overall stress level in your relationship. It is also important to realize that many people with OCD experience other forms of anxiety disorders or depression that can complicate the symptoms they experience. While having OCD can sometimes introduce challenges in a relationship, there are things you can do to help support your partner.
Time it right
Brooding depression makes them seem ultra-sexy, mysterious, tormented, and romantic. If they fly off the handle at the smallest criticism, you may be dating someone with depression. The opposite of what you would think, someone with depression often has difficulty sleeping. Often, someone depressed stops activity and finds solace in eating. If their appearance changed drastically, they may be depressed. If you notice they put on twenty pounds out of the blue, it is a huge warning sign of depression.
Mental health issues have traditionally been a taboo topic, but when someone who suffers from mental illness experiences pain, it is important for them to be able to talk to someone. Researchers have long suggested that pets could improve our mental health. They reduce stress, decrease loneliness, and provide a cocktail of feel-good neurochemicals when we snuggle up with them.
Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The editorial team of LovePanky comprises relationship experts and real-life experts that share their experiences and life lessons. There is nothing easy about dating someone with depression, but the endless love they give you in return for your patience and support is definitely worthwhile. But all said and done, continuing to date them is a decision you and you alone will have to make. In fact, you may be saying the most profound, sensible thing ever that could totally do wonders for your lover’s spirit, but they’re just not listening.