Gettyimages.com/Young African American male in sky blue underpants sitting on the edge of bed with his head in his hands.
Depression is nobody’s fault, and anyone struggling with it should never feel guilty about opening up to loved one’s about their experiences. But, the important phrase there is loved ones—as in, your preexisting network of friends and family. Your support system, that you’ve already built, is meant to be there for you when you need a little extra help. They’re there to lift you up when you can’t lift yourself up. That is what friends and family are for, but that’s not what brand new romantic relationships are for. I know it’s a sensitive topic and a lot of people may have drastically different opinions from my own but, as someone who has been depressed and has been involved romantically with depressed individuals, I feel strongly that those in the throws of severe depression should not try to date. Depressed individuals need to take…happiness/energy/support. And that’s okay—they should take it from their friends and family. But a new romantic relationship should be built on give and take. Not just the latter. Depressed men, please stop dating. I’ve come across too many of you on first dates.
Gettyimages.com/Young couple decorating home for dinner party. They are drinking wine and waiting for guests to arrive. Well dressed.
You hide it well at first
The real trouble with depressed individuals dating is that they can usually conceal their condition for a while—just long enough to draw someone in. They can often appear happy and stable just long enough to make someone attached to them, and then, that individual has hell on earth coming their way.
