One thing that may be worse than going through depression is having a relationship with a person who is showing signs of relationship depression
. It can be torment to see them go through this period in their life. There never seems to be any end to it and as it wears on both parties many relationships because of it.
Depression makes people think irrationally and causes them to be blind to the good things in life, like you. Their attitude towards everything you do to make them feel better will make you feel like you are wasting your time. Don't give up because even though it seems futile you are actually making progress in most cases.
Just being there for them can mean more than you first thought. They understand why you would leave and will even probably try to make the decision easier for you. The reality is that they don't really want you to go. Most know they need help and want you to be with them.
Understanding depression is one of the keys to help you, and them, deal with it. Learn as much as you can about this mental disorder. Seek out to find what causes it. It could be because they lost a job or did something that brought on a feeling of failure. Depression can be caused by one event or a series of events but once its started it can snowball.
Make you sure look after yourself in the relationship. Depression is insidious by nature and can be contagious if left to it's own devices. As you learn about depression keep a close eye on yourself to make sure you are not exhibiting any signs of being depressed as well. If you are then you should be quick in seeking help from psychologists or counselors. Your relationship may never survive if both of you are suffering from depression. Make sure you take some time to yourself if you are starting to feel the pressure from the weight of it all.
Failed relationships can sometimes be the cause of depression. When a relationship has failed it is easy to feel like every relationship after that is doomed to fail. Once someone begins feeling that way they will many times turn their current relationships in to a failed one. Getting professional advice from a counselor as soon as possible is paramount if you notice that this sort of behavior. This is not the only reason that marriages or dating relationships fail while one is in depression. Just the strain will cause it to suffer. Get as much professional advice as possible.
Above all, do not give up. The effort you are making matters and believe that you can help them beat their depression. Amazing and poweful results can be achieved when you have a strong relationship. Depression is a tough foe but it can be beaten when the one you love has you to depend on.