She says she feels unsupported no matter how hard i try

Ro77
Community Member

My wife of 13 yrs is suffering depression. Been on meds for about 4 years, dose increased again a few weeks ago. No matter how much i try to do to support her by doing housework, cooking, picking up kids/ dropping them at school, allowing her to sleep in coz she always feels so tired, I'm accused of not supporting her. I don't judge her and tell her i love her every day. She has no desire for physical closeness let alone a libido. I've asked if we need couples counselling coz i don't want to blame all our difficulties just on her mental health - that's not fair on her, i know I'm far from perfect.

Dont know how to support someone who doesn't tell me what else she wants or needs ither than 'support'. When i tell her that I'm further accused of highlighting her inconsistencies and irrationality which seems to push us further apart.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? What else could i try?

15 Replies 15

blondguy
Champion Alumni

Hi Ro77

You are amazing for caring for your wife as well as you have been doing. Excellent approach and TLC

What a wonderful surprise for your wife today 🙂 You are a true legend!!

Just some info re 'caring for someone with depression in the link below for your information Ro

www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/supporting-someone/supporting-someone-with-depression-or-anxiety

Great initiative Ro77 🙂

My kind thoughts for you

Paul

Chrispie
Community Member
That's sounds so good. Hope it goes well. Your doing great. Is she good with a large group? I'm not so good and tend to get a bit anxious. Just give her cheeky grins and hold her hand or whatever works for her, just to let her know you are around. If it doesn't go so well, don't let it throw you off. Keep going and you'll be fine. Chris

Hi Ro, welcome

From my experiences especially in recent times Ive come to the conclusion that what we solely experience as individuals is often nothing like what others feel. We cannot expect others to think like us. Supporting someone doesnt mean it will be returned even recognised.

So elaborating on that. You in your eyes run around doing all these tasks. What if (hypothetically) your wife does not count those tasks as support? What if she takes such effort as expected effort or maybe not fulfilling her in what she identifies as support.

That might from your angle seem very unfair, and it is, but for her with how her mind is wired, it isnt registering.

If this is the case, your challenge and hers if she accepts the challange, is to seek out what the other partner identifies as what support means to them. In your case when she claims you are not supportive what would support include eg talking more? Listening more? More intimate dinners? Asking more how you can help her.

It seems from your OP that your good efforts are not targetted accurately.

Relationships Australia might be a good place to go. If she wont attend then go there yourself. You can also visit your GP.

Tony WK

Hi Ro77,

I'm with Tony (White Knight). Asking her what she specifically means by being supportive is a great idea.

In my experience (myself with major depression and hubby being like you and helping non stop) a lot of his help was actually making me worse.

I couldn't say anything without sounding ungrateful and rude because it seemed silly to complain about him helping me. So I didn't. The more I fell apart the more he took control. Although I knew he was just worried for me and trying to help me I felt smothered and belittled and trapped. He took over my responsibilities, started changing my routines and wanting everything done his way. It made me fall apart even more because I felt useless and incompetent at doing things I had always been responsible for.

Depressed doesn't mean incapable. If she has medication that is helping maybe it's time to become a team again. Support her by empowering her. If the meds and therapy aren't doing enough maybe its time for a new psych or new meds?

Lastly you're doing a wonderful job regardless. Your love for your wife is obvious 😊. Maybe she needs more reminders of this that regardless of the MI you're mad about her still and not going anywhere. Please take care of yourself too 😊

Ro77
Community Member
It went better than i could hope for. Happy times

Chrispie
Community Member
That's great. Good on you.