“Marriage isn’t a bed of roses” is a true statement.
Some days, you and your partner will be on the best terms, and the relationship will feel easygoing. On other days, you and your spouse will disagree and feel upset with one another. Fortunately, these are pretty standard parts of a marriage. When things are really challenging, you or your partner may experience symptoms that look like depression.
Marriage can often feel like a rollercoaster with all the ups and downs. It is a lifelong commitment between two people who sometimes have different thoughts, perspectives, opinions, or judgments.
However, when moments of turmoil and unpleasantness become defining aspects of your marriage, your mental health can be affected.
How does depression look in a marriage?
If you feel saddened, detached, or discouraged with your spouse most of the time, you could be depressed in your marriage. Signs of depression related to your marriage could be:
- Intentionally avoiding your spouse and feeling as though they are avoiding you too.
- The conversations are short and usually limited to the bare essentials. You no longer talk about the things you are passionate about.
- You do not look for to seeing or hearing from your spouse anymore.
- You lack the desire to spend quality time with each other, or any time for that matter. The simple sight of your spouse causes unknown irritability.
- You are no longer interested in intimacy.
- You are accepting the helplessness, loneliness, or hopelessness you feel in your marriage.
- The peace consumes you while thinking about your marriage ending.
- You have zero motivation to do anything productive.
Experiencing four or more of these items at a time are indicators that you may be depressed, and it could be due to your marriage.
Reasons behind depression in marriage.
If you are a spouse thinking, “My marriage is making me depressed,” or “My boring marriage is causing depression,” you have likely experienced repeated issues. Of course, it is common to have these feelings occasionally, but it is unhealthy to feel them habitually.
A marriage requires tons of work, understanding, and effort. The relationship deteriorates when one or both partners take their marriage or spouse for granted. There are usually underlying indicators for marital depression that you overlook. Depression in a marriage does not just appear randomly. It is a build-up of one or more emotions from a repeated act.
Can my marriage be restored?
Giving up hope is the easiest thing to do in an unhappy marriage. However, there are things that you and your spouse can do together to put the spark back in your marriage. Here are a few productive ways to deal with depression in marriage:
- Reminiscence about the good times: Remembering the positive things about your relationship can enhance the romance and bring back the spark.
- Determine the issues: Writing down the problems that make you unhappy can help you feel less depressed. Writing helps ensure you get everything out when you finally have the conversation with your spouse.
- Identify the strengths and weaknesses: It is easy to identify weaknesses and things you find wrong with your spouse. But marriage is about the good and the bad. While it is essential to note the areas that could use improvement, it is equally important to acknowledge your spouse’s strengths. By identifying both, you could work on a plan to reduce content and unhappiness in your relationship.
- Take care of yourself: Having “you time” is especially important when dealing with depression. Unfortunately, marital depression can consume you so much that you forget to do the things you once enjoyed. Making time for yourself outside your home, enjoying time with friends, or making healthy lifestyle choices can positively impact your mental health.
We Can Help You Strengthen Your Relationship
Sometimes, attempting to treat marital depression alone can worsen things. If you and your spouse are not on the same page with healing, it could cause you to fall further apart. It could even intensify the depression. In this case, seeking professional help can aid you and your spouse navigate the depression successfully.
Couples counseling is a great starting point to help you get to the root of the problem and work your way out of the depression. Marriage counseling is an excellent resource in this predicament because for it to be successful, both parties must participate and perform work. The environment is controlled and safe in a marriage counseling session with the therapist. The therapist is licensed and trained for situations such as these.
Begin Online Marriage Counseling in Alabama
If you are looking for an experienced counselor to help support you and your spouse as you strive for a healthier relationship, Aspire Counseling & Consulting Services is a great place to start your search. We are currently accepting clients who are seeking counseling or therapy services. If you need more information or are ready to begin counseling services, please follow these simple steps:
- Contact Aspire Counseling
- Meet with a caring counselor
- Start receiving the support your relationship deserves
Other Services Offered with Aspire Counseling
We know that there are multiple mental health concerns you or your partner may experience. This is why we offer multiple mental health services in addition to marriage counseling. We also offer individual counseling, anger management therapy, anger management classes, and depression therapy. Also, we offer support with continuing education, overcoming eating disorders, and offer online clinical supervision for social workers. Visit our blog or FAQ for more helpful info! If you need more information about our rates, accepted insurance, and services or are ready to begin counseling services, please do not hesitate to call or visit our blog for more information.
