Help, I suffer anxiety and my partner suffers depression

[Amani]

Hi all, I'm new to this group and I'm in desperate need for some help. I'm suffering anxiety and my partners depression is impacting on me in a huge way. I have never felt so alone and unloved in all my life. I have been trying so hard to be understanding of my partners depression but his verbal attacks and distancing of himself and complete lack of love and attention to me is making my life unbearable at the moment, is anyone else in this position or able to offer me advice please. 😢

[Zeal]

Hi Amani,

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling unloved and alone. It's hard enough when one partner in a relationship has a mental illness, but especially challenging when you both do. It's crucial that you both receive professional support. Have either you or your partner sought help recently? If you are not currently seeing someone, going to your doctor (GP) for a referral is a good idea. Once you are both seeing separate mental health professionals, you and your partner could attend a few appointments together. This way, you can learn together how best to support and communicate with each other whilst living with mental illness.

Here are some great online resources (not a replacement for in-person support):

https://flourishaustralia.saneforums.org/t5/Carers-Forum/ct-p/carers-forum (as you both have mental illness, this is not the typical carer situation, but this site still has valuable info)

https://www.lifeline.org.au/static/uploads/files/carers-of-people-with-mental-illness2-wfmbbryachyc.pdf

http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/consumers.cfm (this site has free information packages on different mental illnesses and issues, including depression, anxiety, improving self-esteem etc.)

If you want to talk to someone at any time and for any reason, you can ring the 24/7 Beyondblue helpline on 1300 22 4636.

It would be great to hear back from you 🙂

Best wishes,

Zeal