Dating a person with severe depression

When you date a woman with depression, build a relationship and fall in love with her, her illness does not seem like a huge obstacle.

Unfortunately, loving a woman does not automatically endow you with the ability to understand and deal with her depression.

Brown also says that, while depressed people may feel the need to force themselves into dating, they shouldn't push themselves if they're not ready.

Though dating is definitely not impossible to do, Dr.

Because depression can severely affect a person's ability to get up in the morning and live their lives, it can make dating — something that literally requires you to function pretty well — a little bit of a challenge to deal with.

In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, Elite Daily spoke to a couple of experts about how dating can change when you have depression. Especially in the early stages of getting to know someone, you have to be “on” whenever you're around them.

I am diagnosed with clinical depression, something most people know about me but some may not.

If they seem to be prioritizing themselves more than usual, know it is the effects of the depression rather than a character flaw.

Help them work through it rather than judging or being resentful.

Depression can be a subconscious negative voice in a woman’s head that tells her she is horrible, unworthy of your love.

Men with depression experience this, but it tends to be more intense for women because they ruminate on it rather than seeking distractions.