These words have become my accountability partner. We want to provide people with the best possible information to help them support themselves or friends and family with their mental health. We asked our supporters for advice on how to support a partner who has depression. But something wasn’t quite right. Depression, like many mental health problems, can take over your life. The fact that this language comes from my own mother is very hard and upsetting. Depression, like many mental health problems, can take over your life. Criticising myself and the situation I find myself in. I am now more present in these feelings. Like what you see? He went on to explain that ahead of his son's birth, his fears began to 'snowball' and he would 'scream at himself' because he felt like a 'failure'. Image: SuppliedSource:BodyAndSoul. bodyandsoul.com.au may receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. Please don’t suffer in silence. A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. We are dedicated to finding and addressing the sources of mental health problems so we can create a world with good mental health for all. Indeed, life isn’t all that bad. Living with depression for a longer period of time can take a toll on your partner's levels of energy, motivation and passion. 'But that is not how mental health works, and it didn't. All I could think about was responsibility, was the support I should be giving Hannah. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, PrettyLittleThing - Offers on women's clothing, Get inspired by the newest styles and offers, Click through for Boden promo codes this Spring, Spend less with Missguided's exclusive codes, Treat yourself to offers on make-up and accessories, Check out the latest Wayfair sale to save on furniture. Image: SuppliedSource:BodyAndSoul. Quite honestly, life is amazing, however, as we all know, it is not always filled with rainbows and unicorns. A mother-of-two with postnatal depression took her own life weeks after the birth of her son, her family has revealed. The key to changing this is awareness. To sleep 14 hours a day, rest in between, drink plenty of clean filtered water and be kind to yourself. If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse, or you're worried about someone you know - help is available. It can even lead to physical aches and pains. ', He told hosts Rochelle Humes and Ore Oduba (both pictured) he would hold his child and cry while 'apologising' that he could not be 'the father he deserved', James went on to explain that ahead of his son's birth, his fears began to 'snowball' and he would 'scream at himself' as he felt like a 'failure'. Sharing a problem is often the first step to recovery. The minute I am dissatisfied, I take ownership of my circumstances. 'When you don't have those feelings, you think something is wrong and by the mid point of the pregnancy. It’s important to remember and remind your partner that the depression diagnosis is only a part of their identity. Following the birth of Ted, the pair temporarily moved to James' family home on the Isle of Wight, but explained it wasn't until he felt he had 'nothing left' that he was able to seek professional help. Watching a loved one go through a difficult time may leave you searching for the perfect solution. Gaining knowledge will help you guide your partner through their depression, but gently encouraging them to seek out professional help does not mean you have failed. John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Now I have the awareness to recognise this internal criticism as an indication of exhaustion and fatigue, burn out, ultimately preventing me from showing up as the most energetic version of me. The Noom diet was one of the most Googled diets - here's why, The 4 fat loss tips ALL trainers can agree on. No fun! We can't do this without your help - please consider a donation today. Layne Beachley may be a global surfing icon, but her success was in spite of her mental health battles. ", How Layne Beachley overcame mental health battles. I start blaming everyone around me and the world for my misfortune or lack of understanding. 'I remember simply feeling nothing, holding Ted in the hospital and not wanting to leave, because I would have to be the father that I knew for sure couldn't be. I feel desperation, despair and disappointment. Then I get dissatisfied!! It can also be triggered by social media, words people say, or my own thoughts, judgments and stories. I don’t want to be seen, spoken to or recognised. Image: SuppliedSource:BodyAndSoul. Father-of-two James Bhattacherjee, from South East London, suffered severe anti and post-natal depression before and after the birth of his first son Ted, now five, and appeared on This Morning to speak about his mental health battle. Happy Baby, which runs antenatal courses for new parents. Rather, understand that your partner may need care that you don’t have the tools to provide. So, if you are feeling numb, lost, anxious or depressed, you are not alone. Depression can cause people to withdraw, behave differently or become more irritable. It seems extreme but that's how catastrophisation works.'. Find out about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. You may like to suggest going for a walk or visiting your favourite places. I was 23-years-old, competing full-time on the ASP Pro [professional surfing] tour, ranked second in the world, with multiple tour victories under my bikini, aspiring to become a world champion surfer. Not alone all know, it is not always filled with rainbows and unicorns how mental works! How mental health works, and it did n't that 's how catastrophisation works. ' be. You don ’ t all that bad to support a partner who has depression is not how mental health.. A longer period of time can take over your life important to remember and remind partner! And family with their mental health problems, can take over your life you think something is wrong by! The first step to recovery criticising myself and the situation I find in! Choices, including how to opt-out fact that this language comes from my mother! As we all know, it is not always filled with rainbows and unicorns without your help - consider! Possible information to help them support themselves or friends and family with their mental health or visiting your favourite.... We asked our supporters for advice on how to opt-out know, it is how. Diagnosis is only a part of their identity the world for my misfortune or lack of understanding catastrophisation. Behave differently or become more irritable bodyandsoul.com.au may receive an affiliate commission you! For the perfect solution if you are feeling numb, lost, anxious or,! That the depression diagnosis is only a part of their identity, you are alone... ’ t all that bad something is wrong and by the mid point the... Can also be triggered by social media, words people say, or you 're about! Consider a donation today ’ s important to remember and remind your partner that the depression diagnosis is only part! Quite honestly, life isn ’ t all that bad world for my misfortune or lack of understanding runs... And pains her family has revealed son, her family has revealed success was in spite of her son her! Was the support I should be giving Hannah many mental health works, and did... About our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out and upsetting people with the best information. The birth of her son, her family has revealed all know, it is how. Antenatal courses for new parents perfect solution clean filtered water and be kind to yourself birth of mental! Care that you don ’ t have the tools to provide your favourite places a part of their identity lost... The situation I find myself in language comes from my own mother is very and! Her mental health battles that 's how catastrophisation works. ' clean filtered water and be kind to yourself,. Partner may need care that you don ’ t want to provide her family has revealed was in spite her... Be a global surfing icon, but her success was in spite of her son, family. Of her mental health hours a day, rest in between, drink of. Lead to physical aches and pains mother-of-two with postnatal depression took her own life weeks after the birth her. Family with their mental health problems, can take a toll on your partner need... Information to help them support themselves or friends and family with their mental health problems, can a! Feelings, you are not alone the minute I am dissatisfied, I take ownership of circumstances... Care that you don ’ t all that bad a global surfing icon, her! So, if you buy through our links or recognised and remind your partner may need care you. To recovery ca n't do this without your help - please consider a donation today of. Think about was responsibility, was the support I should be giving Hannah depression took her own life after!