th999New Contributor
How can I help my depressed wife, myself and my son
Over the past six years of marriage, I’ve come to realise that my wife is likely living with an ongoing form of depression, which has had a profound and often difficult impact on our relationship. One of the most challenging aspects has been her unpredictable emotional outbursts — episodes of intense anger triggered by small or seemingly insignificant things — often leading to her yelling at me and our six-year-old son. In those moments, I’ve either stayed quiet or gently tried to explain that her behaviour was unreasonable. But when I did speak up, it typically ended with her shutting down, refusing to communicate, slamming doors, and leaving the house on her own.
She has never entered the workforce, saying she has no desire to do so. More recently, during what seemed to be a manic or overly excited phase in her depression cycle, she became fixated on a new business idea. Despite my hesitation, she spent nearly AUD 7,000 of our family savings to pursue it. I chose not to challenge her this time, knowing from experience that questioning her decisions often leads to arguments and emotional fallout. I wanted to maintain a peaceful atmosphere for the sake of our son and our family. Sadly, the business didn’t succeed, largely due to poor planning, and this failure seems to have intensified her depression.
I want to support her — to love her, to hold her — but she often pushes me away, isolates herself, and continues to engage in reckless behaviour. I’m emotionally worn down, but I still want to hold our family together. How do I stay strong, continue to love my wife, and protect our family's well-being? What is the right way forward?
