In recent years, the societal stigma surrounding mental health has begun to fade a bit. Though people have been struggling with issues like depression, anxiety, and more severe conditions for as far back as medical history allows, many have felt a sense of shame over addressing these problems in an official capacity. Though the average person knows that he or she should go to the doctor when feeling physically sick, there seems to be a block for many individuals when it comes to taking the same type of action when a mental affliction comes about.
Part of being a supportive partner in a marriage is understanding how to give your significant other what he or she needs. However, mental health issues can complicate matters when the topic is not being addressed. Review these suggestions and learn how you can handle preliminary discussions of mental health in your relationship.
Observe
Don’t go looking for a problem where there is none, especially in a marriage. However, you may have begun to notice certain patterns in yourself or in your partner that have raised a couple of red flags. If you or your spouse are having mood swings, specifically the kind that lead to spiked levels of sadness, frustration, or anger, then it should be noted. When frequent, these outbursts could be an indication of a more serious problem bubbling beneath the surface.
Sleep is another area where mental health concerns can become apparent. When someone is sleeping all the time or barely at all, this could be an early warning sign. Similarly, always feeling fatigued regardless of how much or little a person has slept could be another indication that it is time to visit a mental health professional. While fatigue can be a sign of physical sickness, it is also a symptom of mental struggles like depression, anxiety, and several more severe conditions.
Interact
While observing yourself or your partner can be a good way to take note of certain behaviors, you should move past this step to help the situation. Bring up the topic of mental health with your spouse. While some people will be very receptive, some individuals may feel like this conversation is an “attack” in some capacity, especially when your concerns are about this person’s mental state. Reducing the odds of this happening comes down to controlling the environment a bit.
Since you know your partner better than most, use your discretion to figure out how to best handle approaching such a conversation. For people who don’t like to be surprised, try to bring the topic up in an easy and safe way when your partner is feeling receptive. This can lay the foundation to have a more involved discussion later on without it feeling like you are coming at your significant other with allegations. Though some people might resist, a majority will want to work through these issues for the sake of their relationships.
Reach Out
Just as you can’t expect to handle all of your medical problems on your own, so must you look to professionals for help with mental difficulties. You can recognize the signs and symptoms in yourself or your partner, but after having a conversation about matters, work on moving forward together. Even if only one of you needs to visit with a professional, you are both in this struggle together because you are a married unit.
While more people are opening up to the idea of taking care of one’s mental health, there are still plenty of challenges to bringing up such topics. Think about the best way to handle this with your own spouse and create a plan that will strengthen your marriage and your individual lives.
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