Has anyone dated someone with depression? And if so what were the positives and negatives?

For me, more negatives than positives. There are a lot of them. I could name a bunch. But, I will only name one because it was the hardest for me to deal with. The mood swings. Hateful, spiteful and downright mean one minute. To eating you up, and can't get enough of you the next.

I dated a swell gal who was struggling with depression because her first husband ( her X ) had left her for a man. Talk about a kick to her self esteem!

We dated for a year or thereabout.
Positives:
Not everyday was a depression day. When she could manage to be well she was a real princess, real perky, friendly, bubbly and oh-so sexy in every way.
A real lady.

Negatives:
YOU will be blamed, even if you are as far removed from the causes of the depression as the sun is to the moon.
She had horrible memory gaps and even more horrific mood swings. One minute she'd be all sweet and the next she would throw a perfect gift back in my face with the meanest attitude one could manage.
Closed in on herself, it was hard to figure out what could make her feel better, if anything.

Yes i have dated some Ladies with depression.
Thankfully i work in the Medical trade, so i have had some training on how to manage it.
Psychologically you need to continually scan her actions and analyse them, get inside her mind and if possible get her to keep you there herself voluntarily.
Definately refrain from any mention of the source of her depression, but listen very carefully to her if she raises the subject. That's more than likely her way of seeking your support on the matter, show her you support her then its simple to change the subject without hurting her.
She feels very vulnerable while she is in this state and great support and understanding can lead to great rewards afterwards.
Remember, Depression comes from many different sources, i have only covered the GENERAL GUIDELINES here, for info only.

Retired Marine, with PTSD, short term, with me. I couldn't keep up.

Many Men have depression.

I do not think there are any positives when dealing with a depressed person.
They will bring you down to their level sooner or later, usually sooner.

So true what Rooster said above:
"YOU will be blamed, even if you are as far removed from the causes of the
depression as the sun is to the moon."

Ennui exists..melancholia..run, run run!

Depended on the person more than the depression.
Some I've dated and they weren't doing anything about it.
Some had a coping mechanism of adopting an outgoing social facade, but then needed a lot of "space" so they could be their "normal" depressed selves.
Some had depression because of something else, like bipolar or schizoid disorder.
Some just took their meds and were fine and normal (not extreme mood swings or problems) for the most part.

Other than that I preferred dating women with depression more than the golddiggers and cheaters. It still gets me this one woman at the end of a date I go to kiss and she says "I guess I should tell you, I have a boyfriend. But you can still take me out, and we can have fun and stuff." And I'm like "you mean I date you, show romance, pay for stuff, and then you go home to your boyfriend?" and she says "yeah!"

And another where we tried dating, but it just didn't work, I broke up with her, then she chased me asking to be "just friends."
First time we go out as friends she says "I can't believe I just paid for myself. Are you really going to make me get used to doing that?"


So I guess "pro's" would be:
- someone to date.
- it could be worse.

"Con's" would be:
- you don't know what's going to happen. Mood can change for the worse at any time.
But that's generally not a shocker dating women. hahahaha

I've tried Borderline Personality Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder. Depression was only a partial component of the latter.

Having suffered from depression myself, I know that there are no positives about it. Even though it shows in different ways with each individual, it is always a detriment.

If the person with the depressed person thinks that the depressed person is defective as a human being because of it, as though it shows weakness of character for example, then the relationship will fail every time. If the person with them thinks that the depression should lift, because of the "magic power of love," the relationship will fail.

Basically, if you think that the problem IS the person, you should not get involved. Tendency to depression is like any other handicap, save that the immediate cause is invisible, and so many people just plain don't believe it's real.

If you have to have endless positivism and energy, don't try to get involved with a person who is prone to depression. If you think your mates' moods reflect how much they value you, stay away.

Humm I must say for myself I put a guy at arms length due to he was dealing with being bi-polar/depression, due to what I seen my brother go through with his ex wife of 15 years... Now that he is divorced from her he is the happiest I have ever seen him... She drug him down and he never admitted all that he was going through till they separated....

It is sad what happens to those with the disorder as well as what it does to those that try to love them and help them~~~

I dated a man with depression once and he seemed great for the first several months before everything went downhill fast. I was told by a psychologist friend that it’s common for people suffering depression to crave the new love feeling as a form of self medication. Once the initial high wears off, they need a new source of feel good hormones. Searching for love can become an addiction for them.

I don’t think that means we shouldn’t date people suffering depression, but to be aware of signs you may be being used as a feel good drug and not a potential partner.