Depression Supporters Support Group
This community is dedicated to spouses, children, relatives, co-workers and others who are actively supporting someone suffering from depression or other serious mental illness. Depression can bring about intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive, which can have a grave impact on the ability of others trying to help.
I don't know how this place works. Looks like everyone tells their stories but conversations all one-way. Glad to share the details of my story, but would prefer to do so in a chat or in a group setting of some sort.
The basics: married 16yrs to a great woman who suffers from depression / PTSD stemming from rape when she was a girl. Her memory of rape was suppressed and stayed in her subconscious for decades. Did not surface until a year *after* we got married. I've supported her through thick and thin for 15yrs. We have three beautiful kids. Our middle child is on the autism spectrum, which presents another full set of daily challenges. I myself have been worn down by all of this. I run my own business. It's been successful enough to enable my wife to stay home with the kids. For the first time, I hit cash flow problems nine months ago. Temporary, manageable business issue. Except I kind of lost it. Anxiety, sleeplessness. After a couple of months of feeling "out of my head", I changed diet and exercise habits dramatically and I feel much better now. Normal. Tried therapy. Didn't work. Never connected with the people I saw. Always felt like I'd be better off speaking w peers. That's why I'm here.
Hope someone can educate me on how things work around here. Would be great to start up conversations w people going through similar things.
You've been taking on a lot! With your own business, wife suffering from depression and autistic child there's bound to be some mental backlash. You sound like you've been taking good steps toward your own mental health which is huge, especially with all the possibility for distraction. I would encourage you to keep searching for a therapist you connect with. It's a journey that is well worth it once you find your person! I searched for a long time and quit therapy for years until I really decided to make the commitment to find the right fit, which after much searching I finally found. It's a special relationship and takes time and patience to find. Turns out that I also was really ready to commit to my own personal change, so I was more tenacious about finding someone. I feel like this is a great place when you're feeling alone with your partner and what they are going through, but is very different from the benefits of one on one therapy. I have a great therapist her name is Heidi Behr in Orlando, FL. you may be able to email her and ask for a recommendation on where to look for someone in your area! Heidi@FeelPeaceNow.com
I agree, I feel that talking with peers would be so helpful. It's always helped me in the past!
I think your idea of meeting online may be a great help! Maybe this is something we can gather a group of people together to do?
We could meet on here to post with each other?