I'm glad that Jo has helped you to recognise this.
I'll just add that I have suffered with depression. The worst bout was post-natal depression, after my first child was born. It was very bad and it lasted a long time.
Now, I know that it was horrific for me ~ it is a terrible blight ~ but it was extremely hard for my husband too.
The thing about depression is that no-one can comprehend it, unless they have had it.
My husband was having to cope with a person in a terrible state, whom he didn't know any more. I needed him to help me, but he couldn't, no matter how much he wanted to, or tried.
It was making him extremely stressed and he began to suffer as well. He had no idea how I felt, except that it was bad. I feel very sorry for the partners of people suffering from depression. It is like nothing else.
You can get herbal remedies. St Johns wort is one. Lack of the right vitamins can cause it ~ especially the B vitamins, I think. Taking antibiotics can cause it. Also not getting enough sunshine.
Sometimes, just acknowledging that it may be depression can help, in itself.
Good luck!
