On your wedding day you never imagine that depression could cloud your lives to the degree that it can. Not only does it take your depressed spouse hostage and change how they conduct their lives and how they interact with you, it can also confuse and frustrate you. You want to help but you don’t know how to do it without making matters worse.

You may be able to relate to what author Cheri Fuller said about her experience in trying to help her depressed husband. She writes:

“I tried everything I could think of to cheer him up. I pointed out all the positive things he did, such as being a great dad or helping other people. I encouraged Holmes to look ahead to a family trip we’d planned, but that didn’t help, either. As the months rolled into years, neither my encouraging words nor my hard work to take up the slack in our income seemed to make a difference.” (From the article, “When Your Husband Struggles with Depression,” posted on “Today’s Christian Woman” web site)

One husband, as quoted by Carolyn MacInnes, admitted that his concern for his depressed wife turned into frustration,

“I’d ask again and again what was wrong, but she never had an answer. Not only was I aggravated by my feelings of helplessness, I was angry the life I’d worked so hard to provide wasn’t enough to make her happy.”

His wife added,

“And the more angry he got, the more he’d withdraw from me. Then I’d feel guilty and withdraw even more. We just kept drifting further apart.” (From the article, When Your Spouse is Depressed, as posted on the Focus on the Family web site)

Can you relate to this wife and/or this husband and what they’ve lived through with their depressed spouse? Below you will find links to different articles located on various web sites that will aid you in being a supportive spouse and give you direction as to how to help your loved one emerge out of the darkness of depression. We pray you will find them to be helpful to your situation.

When you’re done reading the articles:
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To read the articles, click onto the article below that you would like to read:

• WHEN YOUR SPOUSE IS DEPRESSED

• WHEN YOUR HUSBAND STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION

• WHAT’S WRONG WITH HIM?

• THE TRUTH ABOUT MEN AND DEPRESSION

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