Posted by anna on December 24, 1999, at 17:05:24
In reply to Depression and Relationships, posted by Nancy on December 24, 1999, at 1:58:31
> If this guy is someone you want to be with, then he will accept it. Sounds trite, but if he can't, you don't want to be with him anyway. I lost too many years and relationships and potential relaionships because I tried to hide my panic disorder/depression and instead just came off looking totally wacko. Had I fessed up, I know most would have been fine with it or at least not been confused. I am carefully open about my meds, etc now. But I really have to go out with the person at least a couple of times and feel that something is possible before i say anything. If so, (and my panic is under control now) I am very straitforward. And you know what--maybe becasue we are all a bit older, or because of the men I attract--they are either on depression meds or have taken them. (Now, at work...you may NOT want to be so open!)
> I am fairly new to depression (that almost sounds wierd to say), but it has been pretty bad for me since August. Around the time that all of this began, I started a relationship that has been barely stringing along through all of my mood swings and rough times for the last three months. I didn't really know what depression was until it hit me, and I didn't know how long it would last or if it would worsen, and I just grew to fear it. In the meantime, this relationship that I thought (and wished) would work out was slipping away, and on the days that I would feel better from the meds I would pretend that everything was normal, and on the bad days I would just have no contact, as a way to hide what was going on. As of now, I think that I have finally found a combination of medicines that will work for me, and I feel like my head is above water (hopefully for good). I desperately want to save this relationship that has started out very rocky (I have not said anything about my depression), but I feel as if I have already failed in my part of the relationship. Part of me also is afraid to give it 100% for fear that my depression may come back as bad or worse than before. So I guess what I am asking is, has anyone else out there experienced what I am feeling? If so, how do you deal with this?
>
> I also would like to say that I hope that this board has been as therapeutic for others as it has been for me, reading it has probably helped me as much or more than visits to the doctor or my meds. I just wanted to thank everyone for being so supportive, as I think that no one can truly understand this disease until they have experienced it. Peace.
>
> Nancy
poster:anna
thread:17415
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991212/msgs/17445.html