If you're wondering whether or not your partner suffers from depression, she's probably displaying unusual behaviors. She might be having issues at work, isolating herself at home and neglecting her children. Her behavior has probably changed so drastically that you're becoming more and more concerned. Realizing that your partner is depressed is the first step in helping her get treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs that you're partner is depressed include overwhelming sadness, irritability, loss of pleasure, issues eating and sleeping, decrease in libido, fatigue and trouble concentrating, reports MayoClinic.com. Your partner may also complain of frequent headaches and stomachaches, muscle tension and other physical issues, reports Helpguide.org. For someone to be depressed, the person must experience these symptoms for at least two weeks.
Considerations
If your partner recently experienced the loss of a loved one, his job or a pet, symptoms of depression are a normal part of the grieving process. He won't be diagnosed with depression unless these symptoms are severe and persistent. Often, therapists won't diagnosis someone with depression if they've lost a loved one unless symptoms have persisted for at least one month.
Misconceptions
Many partners want to help their loved ones when they think they're suffering from depression. One common feeling is to want to tell their partners to just snap out of it, but depression doesn't work like that. It's a brain disorder that affects the level of your partner's neurotransmitters, reports the University of Michigan Depression Center. If she's experiencing depression symptoms, she'll need professional help to cope with them.
Diagnosis
In order to really know whether your partner is depressed, he needs to be evaluated by a mental health professional, such as a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist. Only doctors and mental health professionals can diagnose mental health disorders. Ask your family's physician for two to three referrals of local mental health professional that she recommends using.
Warning
Some people have thoughts of suicide when they're depressed. This is a serious symptom of major depression that must be addressed immediately. If your partner shows any signs of suicidal thinking, such as saying goodbye, glorifying death, giving away prized possessions, writing about death or a sudden change to a calm demeanor, she needs immediate professional help. Don't leave her alone. Call 911 or a suicide hotline or take her to your local psychiatric emergency room. Take all signs of suicidal ideation seriously in order to avoid a traumatic situation.
