Mental Health and Marriage – What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed

Do you or anyone you love suffer from mental illness? According to NIMH, approximately one in five adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of mental illness.

There’s no denying that marriage comes with problems. However, when mental illness is involved, these problems can drastically intensify.

Whether it’s you, your spouse, or both of you who struggle with mental health issues, it’s essential to know how to handle the problems mental illness may cause in your marriage.

This article will cover mental health and marriage and what to do when you’re overwhelmed.

Learn About Your Spouse’s Mental Illness

Understanding your parent’s mental health condition is vital to a healthy marriage. Even if you’re someone who struggles with mental health, you must remember that every mental illness comes with its own symptoms and characteristics.

A good way to learn more about your spouse’s mental illness is to do some research on the disorder and the associated symptoms.

This will help you become more compassionate towards your partner and to not take certain things personally.

Communicate Frequently

If you or your partner struggle with mental illness, repressing your emotions is never a good idea. That’s because it will leave you feeling more isolated and closed off from the marriage.

When feeling overwhelmed, be sure to communicate your feelings toward your partner. Express any issues that are bothering you, whether they are issues towards your partner or to do with your mental illness.

Then, try to actively form a solution together.

Attend Therapy/Couple’s Therapy

Remember, your partner is not your therapist. Yes, your partner can certainly provide comfort, empathy, and support, but they do not have the credentials to take on such a role, nor is it fair to their mental health.

Instead, help your partner find a reputable, licensed therapist who perhaps specializes in their condition. Couple’s therapy can also serve as a tremendous help when it comes to marriage conflict.

Practice Self-Love/Self-Care

As much as you want to provide your partner with support and empathy, you don’t want to forget about yourself in the process. That’s why practicing self-love and self-care is of the utmost importance.

Pour yourself back into your hobbies and passions, spend time with friends, or try something new that you’ve always wanted to do.

As difficult as it is, you must also realize when it’s time to walk away. If your partner is refusing to get help for their issues that are negatively impacting your marriage, it may be in your best interest to separate or divorce. Learn how to tell spouse you want divorce here.

Mental Health and Marriage

This article helped you learn about mental health and marriage and what to do when you’re overwhelmed. When it comes to marriage, mental health is a difficult battle, but there is hope.

At the end of the day, understanding, communicating, seeking treatment, and focusing on yourself are the best ways to help keep your marriage strong.

Interested in reading more articles on neurodiversity? Explore more of our articles today!

Last Updated on August 2, 2022 by Neurodadversity