How to Support Your Partner’s Mental Wellness

Managing a family can be demanding and stressful. Even experienced parents experience an incredible toll on their physical wellness as they continue to devote much of their time and effort to ensure their kids grow healthy. It’s a responsibility you and your partner shouldn’t overlook. At the same time, you cannot deny its effects on your mental well-being. Human as he is, your partner may reach his breaking point as the challenges pile up, making it increasingly harder for you as a family to progress.

Still, being married involves having to work together to raise a family that’s prosperous despite the things that are beyond your control as parents. If one of you begins to feel the weight of worry, it matters for the other to provide guidance and support. Parenting is not just about cooperation. Much of it involves having to deal with problems head-on and letting each other know you’re in this for the long haul. Here are a few tips to help you become a supportive pillar for your partner’s mental wellness.

1. Be open about mental health topics

It might seem easy for anyone to call mental health problems a result of one’s actions, but this point of view ignores the uniqueness of every individual, much less your husband. The reason why certain mental health issues get worse stems from the idea that someone can “stop being sad”. This carries the danger of believing that depression, anxiety, and other conditions are a matter of one’s choice. In reality, these conditions affect even the best of people, and your partner is just as vulnerable to their effects.

Educating yourself about the challenges to mental wellness can help you approach your partner in a more rational way, but with empathy and an understanding that they need your support. Be open about topics on mental health, and certain problems could affect your relationship as husband and wife, as well as your relationship with your children.

2. Make open communication a cornerstone of the household

While it might sound cliche, there’s no denying the fact that open communication with your partner helps you talk about problems, solutions to these problems, and the goals you will want to set as a couple. What’s more, it is an essential channel for showing empathy as you tell each other you’re always available to talk about difficult topics, such as finances and health conditions. Your partner might also undergo a period of restlessness, and communicating with them helps quell feelings of unease and hopelessness he might be harboring under the radar.

They might not be expressive, to begin with, so you must find ways to break the ice and get them to talk about their feelings, experiences, and their expectations for the future. You just have to listen attentively to their stories and provide reasonable guidance. More importantly, give your partner the affirmation that you understand what they’re going through and you’re always ready to lend a listening ear whenever they feel like pouring out.

3. Take as much time as you need

You can’t force your partner to feel better after telling them that everything is going to be okay. People who undergo serious mental health issues know too well that a swift recovery is impossible. You just have to embrace the fact that your partner will need some time to reflect on their thoughts and decide for themselves on what to do with their condition.

As much as possible, don’t worsen his ordeal by belittling them. Take as much time as you need to provide the kind of care he deserves and guide them through the difficult journey of recovery. Don’t impose a timeline. Instead, take it one step at a time as a couple.

4. Find time to develop the right habits

Whether your partner is going through a difficult time with depression or reeling from their withdrawal from cigarettes and alcohol, you need to take part in activities that could help them slowly but surely overcome their battle. Consider looking up activities you can do together that will not only strengthen your bond but also help them cope in healthy ways.

Apart from coming up with a shared exercise routine, you should also look up activities and hobbies that are unfamiliar to you so you can explore them together. Try something creative, such as photography or pottery. If both of you are more on the extreme side, you can go for hobbies like hiking and canoeing. Whichever the case, devoting time to a new hobby as a couple can provide you with the quality time you need to strengthen your mental well-being.

5. Enlist support from friends and family members

If your partner has gone deeper into their mental struggle, you might want to get people within your closest social circles to chime in. So long as you place a high level of trust in certain family members and friends, they could provide additional support if the problem is also affecting you emotionally.

Get these individuals to spend time with you during the weekends and take part in conversations over coffee, focusing on the challenges your partner is facing and what you’re doing to address these challenges. Doing so helps lighten the load on you, making you feel that you’re not alone as a loved one who cares deeply for them.

6. Look up expert interventions

There are times when not even your closest social circles could help make things better for your partner. In this case, the best you could do is to seek professional help, especially if your partner is suffering from more devastating conditions such as addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.

If you live in Illinois and your partner suffers from the effects of substance or alcohol abuse, reach out to a Naperville substance abuse facility specializing in that area of mental wellness intervention. Considering the extent of damage that your partner’s condition has on your relationship, opt to see a marriage counselor who can walk you through the process of reconciliation and recovery, focusing on how both of you could work together to solve the problem.

7. Take time for self-care

It can be difficult to deal with your partner if they’re undergoing a difficult emotional period. Being married entails acknowledging the other person’s need for support, but you can’t overlook its effects on your wellness. As much as you want your partner to overcome their emotional condition, you need to consider how it’s affecting you in the long run.

Again, emotional wellness isn’t forced. You just have to realize your need to slow down and be yourself. There’s hope for your partner, and there’s no reason for you to go through a period of burnout just to make things better. Know your need for self-care, and you will be better equipped to handle your partner at their worst.

Endnote

Mental stress knows no limits, and your husband could be vulnerable to its effects. You can help them become resilient and go hand-in-hand in building a family that could thrive no matter what life throws at you.