Treatment FAQ

how to help my boyfriend with anxiety and depression refusing treatment

by Robin Swaniawski PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Once you understand his reasons for refusal, try to discuss with him the logic behind his thinking. Information is a powerful tool. Provide him with reliable, sound information on the treatment, including the reasons you believe treatment is important for him and how treatment may render him better able to achieve his goals in life.

Full Answer

What to do when your boyfriend has anxiety and depression?

Develop an amicable and mutual plan together for getting through the difficult times and talk through it openly and honestly. Being supportive, empathetic, and patient with your boyfriend while he’s dealing with depressive episodes and anxiety bouts are very important. Never be ignorant or dismissive of your partner’s feelings and thoughts.

Will my boyfriend ever recover from his depression?

Yes, your boyfriend will have to recover in his own time and in his own way. However, you may worry that you are enabling him to continue the cycle of depression. If you are doing so much for your boyfriend that it removes any potential for him to gather the strength to do for himself, then you might need to back off.

Can a partner fix someone with depression?

No one with depression wants a partner to “fix” them because depression does not mean being broken. The intention of fixing someone may be good, but it can make the person with depression feel you are looking down on them or don’t accept them.

What to do when your boyfriend is going through a crisis?

If your boyfriend is depressed or going through a tumultuous time, we know it can be extremely distressing for you. You might spend a lot of time worrying about him and trying to make things easier for him. With a brave smile and optimistic outlook, you might try to uplift his spirits as often as you can.

What happens when someone you love refuses to get treatment?

When someone you love refuses to get professional treatment for their mental health disorder—such as depression, bipolar disorder, or substance abuse —this can put you, as a family member, in a very uncomfortable and difficult position. You care for the person and can see that he or she needs help, but feel powerless and unable to just stand by.

Why does my loved one refuse to move forward?

If your loved one refuses to move forward, it’s useful to try to understand what is behind his reasons for refusing treatment and then address those issues. A person may refuse to accept mental health treatment for many reasons, including: He may believe it indicates he is a failure.

What does it mean to distancing yourself from a sick family member?

That, a lot of times, means distancing yourself from the sick family member who refused treatment. Everyone has limits, and when said mentally sick family member has a long history of repeated abusive behavior I say family members have a right to protect themselves from harm.

How old do you have to be to get a psychotic treatment?

You care for the person and can see that he or she needs help, but feel powerless and unable to just stand by. You cannot force anyone over the age of 18 into treatment, unless they pose a danger to themselves or others or show signs of psychotic thinking (which is not very common).

Is Lamotrigine good for bipolar?

I am surprised your psychiatrist stopped at Lithium. Lamotrigine ( Lamictal) is becoming the new standard for bipolar, and tends to be highly effective.

Is it hard to keep up with meds?

It's really hard to keep up your motivation and keep on trying when so many things don' t go your way, when meds don't work or you have side effects to them. I know, I've been there too. It feels like you have nothing left to do, but actually there's always something else to try. This I know for sure.

How to help a depressed boyfriend?

Extend a helping hand to your boyfriend by asking what how you can support him, how you can help him relieve stress, and whether you can run errands or take him somewhere.

How to help your boyfriend with stress?

Go to source. You can help your boyfriend minimize the stress in his everyday life by introducing him to healthy stress coping skills. Firstly, ask him to write down all the things in his life that are causing him stress or anxiety. Then, work together to brainstorm ways you can reduce or eliminate these stressors.

How to get your boyfriend to recover?

Come up with activities that you and your boyfriend can do with others so that he can forge new bonds. Or, talk to his existing friends and encourage them to get together. Steer clear of enabling your boyfriend. Yes, your boyfriend will have to recover in his own time and in his own way.

What do you fear after a breakup?

A real fear after a break-up with a depressed boyfriend is that he will do something dramatic, including suicide. But you cannot control his actions. If you do have concerns that your ex may harm himself or others, get help. Do not allow yourself to be trapped in a relationship you fear to leave.

How to care for your boyfriend?

It can be easy to spend so much time caring your boyfriend that you forget to care for yourself. Try not to neglect participating in activities that are enjoyable to you such as reading, spending time with friends, or taking a hot bath. And, don’t feel guilty for taking time out for yourself.

How to build confidence in your boyfriend?

Hang out and chill together. Explore. Exercise together; not with the goal of losing weight, but just to feel better. Find activities you enjoy doing together and do them! Anything you can do that makes you feel better and relax is going to help build your boyfriend's confidence over time.

What to do if he asks you to leave him alone?

If he asks you to leave him alone for a while, respect his need for space . However, have family and friends keep a close check on him if you fear he may be a danger to himself.

What to do when your boyfriend is depressed?

8 Things To Do When Your Boyfriend Is Depressed. 1. Help your depressed boyfriend by showing him that he is worthy. 2. Do not overboard him with your concerns. 3. Help him achieve small milestones. 4. Don’t lash out in frustration when your boyfriend is depressed.

What to do if your boyfriend is having mental health issues?

If your boyfriend is suffering from mental health problems, he needs professional help. You must encourage him to take that step. He might refuse many times and choose not to talk about it. However, it is always imperative to get help when one needs it.

What does it mean when your boyfriend is sad?

Sudden unhealthy habits could indicate your boyfriend is depressed. 5. Reduced self- esteem. When your boyfriend is sad, he may lose his confidence and look at himself very poorly. Depression can often stem from a negative self-image and the person might get stuck in a cycle of this reduced self-esteem.

How do men with depression change their behavior?

Men suffering from depression often show sharp changes in behavior by indulging in unhealthy habits. They might begin to drink too much and at the wrong hours. They might develop other habits such as gambling too much or driving rashly.

What happens if your boyfriend is sleeping?

Sleep problems. If your boyfriend is suffering from mental health problems, you will probably notice changes in his sleeping pattern. It does not have to be a drastic shift but his sleep may become erratic, leaving him extremely fatigued.

What happens when you date a man with depression?

Depressed individuals tend to create downward spirals within themselves and dwell in them.

How to help your partner with depression?

When your partner has depression, even the smallest lifestyle changes – no matter how slow or insignificant – can make a big difference. Waking up at the same time for a week, taking a shower before noon, dressing well etc are all little goals that must be celebrated.

What does it mean when your boyfriend is depressed?

If your boyfriend is suffering from depression, it may seem as if he’s distant and emotionally unavailable. They may consider themselves as a burden and close themselves off completely, after a point. However, there are ways to tackle and get through this situation together.

How to help your boyfriend with his feelings?

Set short-term goals and make sure you stand by your boyfriend and help him out in small ways to achieve the goals. Give your partner the space he needs. Sometimes, your boyfriend might need space to be alone and process his thoughts and emotions.

How to help a depressed man?

Constantly remind him of his value and strengths. Gain an understanding of his core beliefs and cognitive distortions. He might be having a skewed sense of self as a consequence of his depression. This will lead to negative beliefs about oneself and cause greater stress.

Can stress cause depression?

Chronic stressful situations can lead to depression, if not dealt with, properly. Depression can arise out of various causes. It could be genetics, brain chemicals, or stressful life situations. Poor coping skills also leads to physical stress and mental exhaustion extensively.

Can you have more than one person in a relationship counselling?

Relationship counselling could be undertaken by just you, it does not require more than one person.

How to control anxiety symptoms?

There is a lot of evidence that exercise is as powerful as most anxiety medications for controlling anxiety symptoms. Starting Over - If the trust is gone, talk to your partner about starting over completely and dating as though you'd never been together.

What are some behaviors that can cause anxiety?

Some of these behaviors include: Mean language. Hiding things (like texting in secret or staying out late and being vague). Physical intimidation. These are all potentially problematic issues that need to be addressed in a relationship for it to work, and all potential causes of anxiety.

How to heal a relationship?

The following are basic strategies for making sure your relationship can heal: Exercise and Other Anxiety Reduction Strategies - First and foremost, anxiety is still anxiety, and that means that effective anxiety reduction strategies can help control the way you feel.

What does it mean when anxiety becomes overwhelming?

When anxiety starts to become overwhelming it may be a sign that you have moderate to severe anxiety. With this free 7 minute anxiety test, you can receive: Take the anxiety test today to gain better insight into your anxiety and its symptoms. Start The Test.

Can anxiety cause lack of trust?

Anxiety can be a barrier in relationships, potentially leading to lack of trust/intimacy. Partners of those with anxiety also have their own struggles. Those that already have anxiety may be more prone to anxiety in relationships. The strategies to address relationship anxiety are diverse.

Is anxiety a separate condition?

However, you want to also address your anxiety like it is its own separate condition because in some ways it is. Even when has to do with your relationship, anxiety is still anxiety, and so it's important that you figure out how to control it and improve your quality of life.

Can stress cause anxiety?

Usually the stress develops over time, and long-term stress is known without a doubt to cause anxiety – it can even cause anxiety disorders. So when you're in a tense relationship and you feel tense all the time, it's not uncommon to show symptoms of anxiety not only in your relationship but out of it as well.

Why does no one want to fix someone with depression?

No one with depression wants a partner to “fix” them because depression does not mean being broken. The intention of fixing someone may be good, but it can make the person with depression feel you are looking down on them or don’t accept them.

What would a man with depression do if he had a choice?

If any man with depression had a choice, he would choose to be rid of it. One of the most hurtful things you can do to a man with depression is say it is his fault, that he could choose to be better if his will or character was stronger.

Why do men with depression seek more distractions than women?

Men with depression tend to seek more distractions than women, which can be a problem if those “distractions” include alcohol and drugs. It also means more time might go by before he feels comfortable having the depression “coming out” conversation.

What does depression mean in dating?

Moffit described the effects of depression on dating as a “third person in the relationship,” someone unbearably negative or obstinate. There might be days when it seems like this third person possesses your partner, trying his best to disrupt the relationship or come between the two of you.

Why do men use distractions?

You can even be one of those positive distractions on occasion. Men also use distractions to remove themselves from the pain of depression. This can make them seem disinterested or oblivious. CIA Medical Senior Editor Sarah Lisovich deals with depression and has dated a man with the illness.

Why do men hide depression?

Men often hide depression because they see it as a sign of weakness, Christiansen said, but the symptoms tend to seep out in the form of irritability and fatigue.

How does depression work?

Depression often works like a game of telephone where no one wins . One person says something nice. The person with depression would love to receive this kindness as it is, but their depression has set up a series of negative filters. By the time the kind words reach the person with depression, the filters have mutated it into something negative ...

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