This guest article from YourTango was written by Julia Flood.
You’ve noticed that your partner seems sad, irritable, or overly critical. Maybe he has expressed hopelessness or guilt. You have noticed a loss of interest in his usual activities, concentration trouble, or changes in his sleep pattern. All these could be signs that your man is struggling with some form of depression.
Depression isn’t only hard for him; mood disturbances also have a big impact on your relationship. But how do you bring up the subject? Many men have difficulty talking about their feelings in the first place. The prospect of having a mental health disorder is difficult to hear for anyone. Even gentle suggestions that the problem may lie within himself will likely not be appreciated.
As the saying goes, “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” So what can you do to help?
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You forgot one of the most important things (for a man, anyway) which is non-verbal support. This may often be as simple as being in the same room, possibly with little or no conversation, perhaps just a gentle reassuring touch, or a shared (non-sexual) activity. For men, the idea of “talking about our feelings” will often exacerbate tension, rather than relieving it. In the presence of non-verbal support, many men will eventually open up and be able to express their thoughts — but it may not be immediately, and it’s not likely to be “on demand.”
excellent information – fully agree with the 4 points