6 Things To Know About Dating While Dealing With Depression
It's been five years but I can still remember the moment my depression seemed to reach a fever pitch so clearly. At the time, my life wasn't going the way I planned. I had just graduated from college and thought I was going to get an amazing job that paid all of my bills. I thought I was going to conquer the world. Instead, I was struggling to support myself by working an unpaid internship during the day and a grubby diner job at night.
It wasn't the glamorous life I had imagined by far.
To top it off, I wasn't getting along with my boyfriend -- the one person who was supposed to know and understand me the most.
The day the moment happened started off relatively normal. I went to work as usual and then caught up with my boyfriend at the time for date night. My boyfriend and I never seemed to be on the same page, but at that time, we were having a really amazing date. The drinks were flowing and the ambiance was amazing. As the sun began to go down, so did my mood. Out of the blue, I became irate. I spent the next few days in a deep depression. I could barely find the energy to get out of bed. Living did not seem worth it and every day I begged for God to end my pain.
My foggy state and unstable emotional behavior were faint reminders of my past. A variety of mental health issues run in my family, including bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD – pretty much anything you can name. My memories of living with and around coping family members had made me very aware of the symptoms and the impact that mental health can have on your life. To think I was going through the same thing was an incredibly scary truth to face and I didn't want to do it alone.
Naturally, I gave my boyfriend a call, hoping he would understand and forgive me for our failed date night days prior. I believed that that was how love was supposed to work. The tears poured from my eyes. All I can recall saying is, “This isn't normal. I think something is wrong with me."
Insert long awkward silence here.
He proceeded to call me crazy. That moment put my thoughts in a complete spiral. I thought lovers were supposed to support you, ask questions, and lead you in the right direction, but he made me feel utterly humiliated for being so open and honest.
Needless to say, he is now my ex-boyfriend.
I learned so much from that experience. It was the beginning of a series of ups and downs in my relationships, particularly pertaining to my mental health issues. The most important lesson that I've learned over the years is that coping with depression is difficult, but it shouldn't keep you from having a fulfilling love life. Coping with depression is difficult, but it shouldn't keep you from having a fulfilling love life.
Below are my tips for dating while you are going through your mental health journey:
Be open and honest about your mental health journey.
At first, it was hard to be open. I was in a constant identity crisis because I was hiding the “bad" part of me. Once you build trust in the relationship, it is important to let your significant other know where you stand in your journey. Leaving them in the dark will cause misunderstandings but opening up will allow for him or her to support you.
Not everyone you date will understand and support your journey.
While dating my ex-boyfriend, he did not understand how I could go from cheerful to depressed so quickly. I tried to explain to him that some days I will cry for no reason and that is okay. It is part of my depression cycle. My constant tears and depressive episodes would lead to criticism and further pain incited by him. If the person is really for you, he or she will walk with you in your journey, not against you.
Maintain your strong support circle before, during, and after relationships.
When you first start a relationship you can become so completely immersed with your significant other that other relationships (namely friendships) fall by the wayside. My advice is to maintain your strong support circle in spite of that tendency. I let a lot of my independence go so when the ex and I broke up, I felt completely isolated and alone. If you were going to therapy before you were dating, don't stop. If you were seeing your friends twice a week, don't stop. If you have one day a week where you have designated alone time to yourself, don't stop. These are things that will keep you mentally balanced and keep you from feeling completely dependent upon your partner for support.
Develop key phrases that let your significant other know how you are feeling.
Key phrases are a great way to help keep your partner from unintentionally pushing buttons. I tell my current boyfriend that, “Today is not the day". With this phrase, he knows that I am either feeling depressed, having anxiety, or dealing with something else. Whatever is the case, he understands that today is not the day to upset me or initiate conversations that might be upsetting, etc.
Don't let your depression define the way people love you.
Stephen Chobsky once said, “We accept the love we think we deserve." Sometimes we think we should take what we can get, when we are going through trying times. Always remember that no matter what you may be going through, you are a beautiful person who deserves genuine, unconditional love. Never settle for less than what you deserve.
[Tweet "We accept the love we think we deserve."]
Always, love yourself first.
The way you feel about yourself reflects in your relationship. If you are insecure about yourself, it will affect your relationship. If you are feeling down, take time to regroup and remind yourself of the queen you are. Remember, if you don't truly love yourself no one will, nor should you expect them to.
After a lot of heartache and lessons learned, I am thrilled to say I am in a loving relationship with a man who may not always understand what it is I'm going through but is willing to stand by me during my mental health journey and love me through my bad days just as easily as he loves me on my good days.
[Tweet "He loves me through my bad days as easily as he loves me on my good days"]
Love is a beautiful feeling. Don't let your struggle with depression stop you from finding the love you deserve. Love yourself and love will find you.
Related Post: My Truth: Loving A Man With A Mental Illness
Has your mental health ever held you back in love? What are some things you've learned about dating through depression or dealing with depression while in a relationship? Share with us below.
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Tiffany is the Founder of Blaque & Blue. An online forum that provides resources and support to women of color on their mental health journey. As a self care and mental health blogger, she tells her story in hopes of empowering women of color to speak openly about mental health in their communities. She loves to travel and is an avid supporter of all things #BlackGirlMagic.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Tracey Edmonds Dropped Her 'Anti-Aging' Self-Care Routine & We're Taking Notes
Aging is a beautiful process.
While society tends to pressure women to spend hundreds on nips, tucks, and miracle creams in search of the fountain of youth, adopting simple habits into our everyday lives can be the hidden key to aging gracefully.
From exercise, regular sleep, and a consistent skincare routine, these pillars of a healthy lifestyle can help us ease into every stage of life that lies ahead. And when we see women like Emmy award-winning producer, Tracey Edmonds glowing and growing through her phases of life, we can’t help but to take notes. That’s why we’re breaking down the 57-year-old’s top anti-aging tips on how to live a vibrant and healthy life.
Tracey Edmonds: 'My Anti-Aging Self-Care Routine'
Stay Hydrated with Lemon and Coconut Water:
“Water not only keeps you energized, but it also cleanses you out — so you need to be drinking at least eight cups of water a day,” Tracey says in her video. “The other thing that you can add to water, which is actually amazing for you, is adding a squeeze of lemon or even a bit more to your water every single day.
“Lemon water is great for removing toxins, and it also tastes really good. It's very refreshing, and it gives you that extra little burst of energy… it'll kind of almost wake you up a little bit,” she shares. “Coconut water has all the benefits of regular water and additional ones. It helps with high blood pressure, and it's great for digestion.”
Exercise 3-5 Times a Week:
“We have to get our exercise in at least three to five times a week,” she advises. “Cardio is so important and it's great for heart health. When you get your body going and your energy flowing, you work better, you think better, you're more focused. So getting cardio is super important.”
Get Your Stretch On:
“I do a lot of stretching at least three times a week,” she says. “It's great for slowing down the aging process and keeping your body really agile with movement. And again, stretching is good for energy flow as well; it clears your chakra so that everything flows better in your body.”
Regular Cardio:
“Anything that actually gets your heart going is great for you. My cardio routine is running or walking on a treadmill at least three times a week. I run a mile each time I'm on the treadmill, so if you can do a mile each time you're on the treadmill, you are looking good, and your energy’s flowing, and keeping your body super healthy.”
Getting a Full Night’s Rest:
“I get at least eight hours of sleep. And yeah, it's hard sometimes, especially when you're working, and you have things on your mind, or you're going through things with your personal life,” she says. “Sometimes when I have problems sleeping, I turn on my sound machine and listen to the sound of a river going by or something that helps relax my mind and removes all the other noise going on in my mind — like all the worries and anxieties and the work issues.”
Self-Care for Your Soul
“I do a lot of meditating and praying,” Tracey shares. “I meditate before I go into prayer and what that is for me is my time to spend with myself and with God. During my meditation/prayer sessions, I block out everything else. I find a really quiet spot, I close my eyes, and I just get in tune with God and where I need to go with my life. I solve problems a lot of times while I'm meditating and praying on them, and come out of meditation and prayer feeling clearer and more focused.”
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Featured image by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images