I am 18 years old girl and I think my boyfriend is suffering from depression. What should I do? Is break up a good thing to do?

Question

If you truly love him, you wouldn't break up with him. You would see how much he can use the relationship as a motivation to get out of the depression. Depression is curable. If is unwilling and not cooperative, then you can take a call. In terms of helping him, there are limitations and a p[articularly concerning dynamic that can hamper and become somewhat gamey is if he puts you in a mother's role and also if he becomes passive expecting you to do all the work. Obviously, that will never work for him. So make all the rules clear about this. He4 needs to get into a good vigorous exercise program for 30 minutes every day which makes the body produce natural antidepressants, but do check with his physician before venturing to attempt this. Talk therapy helps a lot to relieve the depression, but he could also have a good and reliable confidante to do the same, like you. This is the only condition where he is required to literally do the opposite of what he feels like doing. Depression makes him want to withdraw, lie down, sleep, become lethargic, slow down, make him too lazy to even think etc. So when I suggested doing the opposite, he will need to fight this disease. He must become active; stay upright during the daylight time; meet people; never sleep during the day, and wake up by 6 am every day, play some active games, especially contact games, do physical exercises, talk to people and join some social clubs, eat more of proteins and vegetables, attend Yoga classes etc. He can watch a lot of sitcoms on TV or comedies and cheer himself up. Go for excursions in groups, for outings, camps, conferences, and religious conventions. Get a pet dog and spend time training it, exercising it and relating to it. Expose himself to some sunlight every day, at least 30 minutes but not in the scorching heat. I hope you can love him until he is through with this condition. Remember if he is not cooperative, you are wasting your time and you can quit. Whatever happens please incorporate these three important adaptations in his life: always be responsible, be respectful, and be functional. If he did these three things lots of things will go well in life. Please pray and have faith in God to alleviate his sufferings. If he is still not relieved from the depression, then go first to a counselor and later to a psychiatrist, if the counselor advises you. The pro0cess is tough but not impossible.

Saul Pereira · Accepted Answer

If you truly love him, you wouldn't break up with him. You would see how much he can use the relationship as a motivation to get out of the depression. Depression is curable. If is unwilling and not cooperative, then you can take a call. In terms of helping him, there are limitations and a p[articularly concerning dynamic that can hamper and become somewhat gamey is if he puts you in a mother's role and also if he becomes passive expecting you to do all the work. Obviously, that will never work for him. So make all the rules clear about this. He4 needs to get into a good vigorous exercise program for 30 minutes every day which makes the body produce natural antidepressants, but do check with his physician before venturing to attempt this. Talk therapy helps a lot to relieve the depression, but he could also have a good and reliable confidante to do the same, like you. This is the only condition where he is required to literally do the opposite of what he feels like doing. Depression makes him want to withdraw, lie down, sleep, become lethargic, slow down, make him too lazy to even think etc. So when I suggested doing the opposite, he will need to fight this disease. He must become active; stay upright during the daylight time; meet people; never sleep during the day, and wake up by 6 am every day, play some active games, especially contact games, do physical exercises, talk to people and join some social clubs, eat more of proteins and vegetables, attend Yoga classes etc. He can watch a lot of sitcoms on TV or comedies and cheer himself up. Go for excursions in groups, for outings, camps, conferences, and religious conventions. Get a pet dog and spend time training it, exercising it and relating to it. Expose himself to some sunlight every day, at least 30 minutes but not in the scorching heat. I hope you can love him until he is through with this condition. Remember if he is not cooperative, you are wasting your time and you can quit. Whatever happens please incorporate these three important adaptations in his life: always be responsible, be respectful, and be functional. If he did these three things lots of things will go well in life. Please pray and have faith in God to alleviate his sufferings. If he is still not relieved from the depression, then go first to a counselor and later to a psychiatrist, if the counselor advises you. The pro0cess is tough but not impossible.