Depression and Relationships: 3 Ways Treating Depression Will Improve Your Relationship

Depression is a thief that will try to rob you of self-esteem, pleasure, and energy. In return, it will give you a lens of negativity to view the world through. This depressive filter leads to distorted perceptions of self and others and has the ability to magnify everything that isn't positive, getting in the way of the connections you might want to make with others. But depression and relationships don't have to be mutually exclusive. While it's harder to nurture a romantic relationship when feeling down, finding the right treatment will benefit your relationships, and feeling better helps you gain the ability to build the intimacy and natural connections that can make your life better. 

Major Depressive Disorder and Relationships: How Treatment Can Help

When you can remove the tainted lens of depression, things are naturally brighter, and your energy isn't in such short supply. Here's a closer look at three ways treating depression will benefit your relationship

1. Improve Your Ability to Connect with Others 

Withdrawal and avoidance are frequent byproducts of depression. At times, the effort it takes to interact with others feels insurmountable. Reduced energy, sadness, self-doubt, and skewed perceptions get in the way. Depressive thoughts play on repeat, clouding the ability to engage with others. This withdrawal can lead to a growing distance in your relationships, and each person involved can feel more isolated.

But with treatment, spending time with others begins to feel more comfortable. As the volume of the negative tapes is reduced, there's more room to hear other thoughts. It becomes easier to be present and engaged in the relationship.

When the negatives in life become magnified and the positive parts minimized, people are naturally less easy-going. In this state, it can be hard to let annoyances go. Something that wouldn't have been a big deal before depression can now feel intolerable.

As depression fades, this heightened level of irritability and sense of conflict should go away. When feeling well, it's easier to see people in a balanced, nuanced light and hold the good with the bad. Pleasure and enjoyment can return to the relationship.

3. Rediscover the Satisfaction of Mutually Enjoyed Activities 

Prior to depression, you and your partner may have had an active social life, relished traveling together, and cooked fancy meals. But now, negative thoughts and feelings are all-consuming, so ordering takeout and watching a movie on the couch is the most you can muster.

With treatment, activities that used to be pleasurable begin to feel rewarding again, and previous levels of energy and enthusiasm return. Joining together to participate in mutually enjoyed activities strengthens the connection and reminds you both why you chose the relationship in the first place.

Depression and Relationships: A Time for Support

Because depression causes difficulties connecting and communicating, outside support for both partners can help mitigate the effects of depression on the relationship. It's exhausting to navigate depression symptoms, and it's also hard to worry about the mental health of the person you love. Individual and couples therapy can speed up recovery and help identify patterns that get in the way of moving forward.



If you've tried several treatment strategies and are still experiencing depression, know that you are not alone and that there is hope for relief. Taking time to consider the questions posed above will help you feel more confident about your path forward, but don't hesitate to schedule a no-cost consultation to have more of your questions answered.