Depression Forum - Living With a Dysthymic Spouse

Mental Health > Depression Forum > Living With a Dysthymic Spouse

Do you know how doctors define clinical depression? Learn more about this brain disorder and types of depression that doctors diagnose here....

Q: Living With a Dysthymic Spouse

asked by: clamityjane on July 13th, 2004

New User

I have been married for 5 years to a man who suffers from dysthymia. He is taking medication, but other than that doing nothing to assist in changing his "mood" if you will. He does not seek any counseling or more importantly does not seek any consolace and or support from others at all for anything. This is my second marriage, I have two children from a previous marrige who live with me, one of whom will be going to live with his father in two weeks, and then my husband and I have one child. He seems uninterested in developing a retlationship with anyone. To say the least it is a depressing environment. I feel most of the time as if I am drowning. If is take myself out of the negative atmosphere he resents my absence, if I remain in the environment he resents my presence, and seems to merely tolerate my children. I long ago learned "someone else" will not make you happy. I struggle now with what to do for my sanity well being and happiness that does not cause problems in the marriage, and allows him to be who he is. I have been divorced before, my goal is to never go through that again.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Replies(2)

hookups21

replied on October 18th, 2004

New User

I don't really have any advice.. But I am going through something similar.. My husband has been on prozac for about 4 months.. About 2 weeks ago we got into an argument and he said I made him start taking it and now I wouldn't let him get off of it.. None of these things were said by me.. Anyway, I told him I would help him through this in anyway I can, but now he acts like the conversation never happened.. I told him he had to be willing to help himself and want the help available to him, but its like he doesn't want it.. Or doesn't think its a big deal. I told him I don't want to be miserable.. I think I would feel differently if he was trying to help the situation.. He says he has talked to counselors before and the medicine doesn't help.. He says he's not happy and doesn't think he can be happy.. I really want to help but don't want to get dragged down in the process.. I've been doing research on the medicines and printed articles out for him and he just ignores them.. I don't know if I should let him try and work through it or bring it up again.. I'm afraid i'll push him further away and he'll say he never should have said anything.. I don't know.. My thoughts are with you and hope that it works out for you

Taopaz

replied on October 23rd, 2004

New User

Hello.

I am a sufferer of dysthemia, I am also a single (remarried) but single mom of one child.

I would recommend that you remove yourself fromt he situation if your husband is not willing to move in a positive direction, which will no doubt be best for your family and most importantly your child.

As a parent and an individual who goes through the ups and downs of depression daily, I can tell you that I have done much research on how my behavior/depression affects my little girl...Fi the option were out there I would rather her live with a parent or relative who were not in this state until I have it under wraps for her. That is not available to me.

If you yourself do not sufefr from the symptoms I woudl say that a healthy mother is better raising a child than an ill fatehr/mother duo...Unless your husband would be willing to make his recovery from depression a daily act.

I hope this isn't too harsh.

Taopaz

Learn About Us

Get Help

Join In

Do More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.

The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made. Schizophrenia health sitemap.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2009.
© 2008 eForums, Inc