Be Careful About Breaking Up When You’re Depressed
A checklist to use before ending your relationship.
“Depression on my left, Loneliness on my right. They don’t need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert
A man in his late 20s wanted to end his relationship.
He couldn’t give a specific reason for breaking up with his girlfriend of four years: he just said it was time. But when we began to unpack the relationship there seemed to be nothing wrong.
He thought his girlfriend was an amazing person, he hadn’t met anyone else; he didn’t seem motivated to “explore” all the choices out there as some of his mates were doing.
He’d just decided that a clean break was best for everyone. For him, for her. His girlfriend didn’t agree — but he couldn’t see her viewpoint: he’d made up his mind.
The trouble was he wasn’t thinking clearly. His thoughts were distorted by depression and anxiety. And from that head space he’d decided breaking up the relationship was the easiest way to ease his distress.
Was he making the right call?
