Depression is a silent battle that affects millions of people worldwide. This complex mental health condition does not only affect the individual but also people close to them, often damaging their relationships. But it is also difficult to deal with a depressed spouse or partner, considering the complexities such a close bond involves. It is extremely crucial to be understanding and supportive to make sure that both partners overcome the situation together in those hard times.

If you are depressed, here are five warning signs that may help you identify the symptoms and how they are affecting your relationship.

Reduced Sex Drive: When someone is depressed, they become disinterested in a wide variety of activities they once enjoyed. One aspect of your relationship that often becomes affected by mental health issues is intimacy and sex drive. The feeling of not wanting to take part in any regular activities together, including sex is common in relationships where one or both people suffer.

Highly Sensitive: It is a common trigger point in a relationship when one is depressed that they become highly sensitive to criticism and can be irritated easily for smaller reasons. The feeling of self-pity over comments made by colleagues or family members can result in resentment towards the people whom they care about and who mean no harm in what they have said.

Start Feeling Hopeless: According to Scientific American, a sense of hopelessness is one of the central predictors of depression and suicidal thoughts. One begins to feel worthless and assumes that their partner and loved ones feel the same way about them. As time goes on these feelings only get stronger and it’s easy to feel like things will never get better.

The Temptation to Act Out: People who suffer from depression often turn to take prescribed drugs or alcohol in excessive amounts to help fight some of the symptoms. Increased use of drugs or alcohol, different from normal behaviour can be warning signs that depression is affecting the relationship.

Anxiety: A constant feeling of how others perceive them and a feeling of uncertainty about the future of your relationships are signs of high anxiety levels. Anxiousness and constant fear of failure at home and work take depression to another level.