Coping with Wife's Depression

In the SHM Discussions Forum, here's a response from Joanne to the concern of one member about what he can do to help her depressed wife. Joanne wrote:

Tell her you want to get therapy to learn what you might be doing that make it better or worse, and ask her to go with you. Together, you can learn about the ways in which your interactions help or hinder progress. In the process, you will be a better person, and so will she.

Your chances of success are increased dramatically if you have a guide who will sit with you and talk about the specific things you can and cannot do to make it better. Oftentimes, the depressed person gets help alone, and leaves the partner behind. Then the partner doesn't really know what is happening, and distance grows.

The more you write/talk about the things that help, the more you will remember to keep doing them.

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