Clinical depression. Need some input.....?

Question

How has it affected your relationships? Do you find it difficult to communicate with the people in your life that you love the most, and find yourself cutting them out of your life? More specifically, have you had to end a relationship because of it, but couldn't bring yourself to communicate any further with that person even if they were offering support and help?? I've found myself in this situation, and don't know what to do to help him. I'm trying to be a friend to him, but he's not very responsive to me and I don't know if I should leave him be or keep offering support and letting him know I am there so he knows that I haven't abandoned him. I'm just having a hard time trying to figure out his unresponsiveness. He doesn't seem to want anything to do with me

I'm trying to be patient. We were going out for about 3 months when he told me it wouldn't work out for now because he had to fix things in his life so he could be happy. This all happened about 5 months ago. Still has not given a definite answer on the relationship, he just doesn't know what will happen. I've been offering support as a friend, and every once in a while I write an email to see how he's doing and to let him know I am there. Some he responds to, some he doesn't. Last time he responded he said he was doing okay, but not the best and was managing to get by. He also said things were still uneasy but they are working their way out. I want to keep in touch with him so he knows I haven't abandoned him, but it's hard when he gives me the cold shoulder. I don't fully understand

Answer 1

i was diagnosed with the same thing... and i would up trying to overdose on it.. because it blocks your brain from making decisions... its really hard... he might need you by his side... but if you choose to go in that direction let him know that you care about him and still want to be with him (if you do) but if it starts to bother him... leave him be... i realized that i dont need meds to help through this... i needed those who care about me to help.. and im not sure if hes taking medication but talk to him on the phone... and if during the day hes strange and at night he's "himself" the one that you like
then you definetly need to help him...

Answer 2

Hopefully your friend is receiving both chemical and behavioral therapy. The chemical therapy can only help so much, much of the work needs to be done internally. Hopefully he's keep a diary that he can write down private thoughts, then review them after some time.

After sessions with a therapist, suggest to him to ask his therapist to see if you could join sessions with him. It's at that point you can express your angst and your issues with him.

Answer 3

Depression is very hard to deal with, I know that I felt the need to push people away because my sadness was making them unhappy. I know that I pushed far to many people away, and they were patient with me. I was the one who had to regain contact with them, and luckily they were responsive to that.
I'm sorry to hear that his depression has pushed the two of you apart, I hope that eventually he is able to let you back in. The problem is, he can't let you in until he is ready. It is honestly one of the hardest things to explain, but I'm glad you are trying to be patient. The thing is, he needs you to care, but it very hard for him to allow you to do that. It's hard to let others love you when you can't fully love yourself. But I think he does in fact need you around to be there when he is ready to let you back in.
I wish you the best of luck in your relationship.