Help for Spouses of People with Major Depressive Disorder

Help for Spouses of People with Major Depressive Disorder
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Spouses of People with Major Depressive Disorder

Living with the symptoms of major depressive disorder is tough, but help is all around in the form of mental health professionals, medications, support groups, books, and more. But what help is available for the spouses of people with major depressive disorder? At first glance, it appears there isn’t much out there, but when you do some research you can find a treasure trove of information, guidance, and even support from other spouses living with a partner suffering from the mood disorder. The effects of major depressive disorder on the family can be many but the right help for you can be found by checking out the links in the article below, and by conducting your own research for other support systems in your immediate area.

Support Groups

It is true that you won’t find as many support groups for spouses of people with major depressive disorder as you would for those actually suffering from the condition, but they do exist. If you can’t find any in your area that are run by mental health clinics or even religious groups, you might benefit from an online support group. Online support groups offer a way to interact with others who might be feeling a lot like you are about living with someone who is depressed. You might be able to find one or two people that you really connect with and can turn to when you need someone to talk to about living with someone with depression. The most popular online support group is the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance. They have groups running Monday through Saturday at varying times so you’re sure to find one that fits with your schedule.

Online Discussion Boards

Think of an online discussion board as a support group. There are a lot of other people out there living with someone who has major depression who feel just like you do. Most discussion boards for depression also have a thread or forum solely dedicated to spouses of people with major depressive disorder. There are still other discussion boards that focus only on those who live with someone who is depressed. The forums at DepressionConnection.Com is a great place to start if you are looking for a discussion board to help you reach out to others who feel as you do about living with someone who is depressed.

Self Help Books

Just as there are numerous books on the market about depression, there are also numerous books on the market about living with a spouse who has major depressive disorder. The very popular self help books for those living with someone who is depressed are: When Someone You Love is Depressed: How to Help Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself by Laura Epstein Rosen, PhD and Xavier Francisco Amador, PhD and How You Can Survive When They’re Depressed: Living and Coping with Depression Fallout by Anne Sheffield. Both of these books are excellent references but are by no means the only ones available.

Resources

Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance

National Institute of Mental Health: Depression