Partner has depression how can I help *SU Trigger

[magie06]

Hi there. You are very welcome to DWD. Please have a look around and see what others are saying about depression.

I don't have any answers for your situation. Has your partner seen a doctor? If you were to print out your post here, and went to the doctor with him, you could hand the post to the doctor and neither of you would need to say anything. The doctor will have seen this before, and will know where to go from here. Medications and therapies have changed and improved over the years. There is probably something that will suit your partner now. Please don't give up. There are solutions out there.

[Airfield]

Thank you for reading my post and for taking the time to reply.
I have tried to suggest seeing a specialist but of course he didn't want to. I will keep insisting though, but I will have to do it gently because having another argument will only push him away.
He's 25, I think has been depressed since he was 18 or so, I'm not sure. What I know for sure is that he won't take any medications. I don't know if it's because he's taken them before but either way that's a no-no.

[Paula]

Hi and welcome. I’ve added a trigger warning to your thread - it’s nothing to worry about, it just ensures any of our members who may struggle with some of the things you’re talking about can be informed about the nature of some of the topics.

Thank you for coming here. Just the fact you’re making the effort to find out how to help is amazing. By listening to your partner and talking to him about his options will already be helping him. You’re right, he does need to see a doctor for diagnosis and so he can access any suitable treatment options but many people in his situation resist going to their doctor. Often this is down to a combination of not wanting to admit there’s a problem and not wanting to talk to a stranger about something so personal. If he’s tried to get help before and got nowhere that’s not going to encourage him either. Magies right, giving some written notes to a doctor (whether yours or your partners) can help get over the not wanting to talk. If you can persuade him to make an appointment, ring the surgery first and ask if they have a doctor that specialises in mental health.

He is scared, and that’s normal, but depression affects 1 in 4 of us so he’s not the first person to feel that way and he’s not the first to ask for help. I want to reassure you, as well as him, of that fact. There are ways through this and just having someone as committed to your relationship as you are is going to help him so much

[Airfield]

Thank you so much for your reply, it really helps to know people have been there before us. I will definitely try to get him some professional help