How to tell your boyfriend or girlfriend you have depression?

There is no "right" way to tell them. There is no "good" time. You just need to be honest with how you feel, and you have to trust them to listen to you and help you through it. It's not as scary as you think. They're your best friend, right? They'll accept you no matter what.

I think the best way to tell your boyfriend/ girlfriend that you are going through depression is to just tell them right away. Tell them how you feel properly. They will surely understand you.

"I have depression" or "I am depressed." Communicating honestly and openly is really that easy. Before you tell them, consider what you'd like to get out of telling them that you're depressed: do you need their support as you get better, would you like them to be more understanding when you have bad days, would you like them to offer more unasked-for hugs, or be willing to accept your 3am phone calls? Try to think of specific ways they can help you. People who do not have depression can sometimes raelly struggle with understanding its affects on our day-to-day lives, and that is not their fault. If however your partner refuses to try to understand, or even becomes unsupportive, guess what? It's a great opportunity to find a real partner! Someone who really loves you will stay with you no matter what state your mind is in (unless you ask them to leave you alone). Someone who really loves you will love you despite your depression and will be by your side to help you in any way you can think of. Good luck! Remember to be your own best-friend because you deserve it.

You can say "I've been feeling sad and emotionally depleted. I no longer have a desire to do the things I used to enjoy and I think I have depression. Can I count on you to be supportive while I try to recover"..

If you want to, and if you think that they will support you, just take a deep breath a tell them. Just do what you are comfortable with

It's a leap of faith. If they understand anything about depression then they'll get that it's just an illness that you can't control. Just like a broken arm. If they don't understand that- maybe you can educate them. You need to believe that It's nothing to be ashamed of. If you are seeking treatment your boyfriend or girlfriend should be supportive and proud of you for telling them. Loving relationships are about support and sharing the burden of life.

If it's a new relationship, it might be hard or scary and feel like they might leave you if you tell them. Speaking from experience, I have felt that reluctance to share but in the end I felt a lot better about telling my significant other because I was able to say "hey, feeling really anxious today. if I snap at you." it made communication between us easier and more satisfying because I was able to say that it wasn't anyone's fault, how I was feeling-- it just was. I would probably start it the conversation assuring them they are an important part of your life and that them knowing this about you is important and they are a source of comfort (not happiness!) for you.

You should know first that they care about you. You should tell them by asking them what they know about depression and topics related to that and then get the conversation topic toward you having depression. Hopefully, they're understanding and stay with you even after they know.

I would recommend this only when you feel 100% comfortable and you've been in the relationship some time and you trust them. Also, only say it if you feel it's negatively affecting the relationship or they're questioning some of your behaviours. You could sit them down, explain that you will find this difficult to tell them and you hope they will view you and it with an open mind and then tell them.

Sit down with them and take a deep breath, make sure there are no interruptions, and quietly talk to them, be sure to be very calm, and tell them everything very honestly. What you feel, what you go though, tell them, and they're to understand and not judge you. You will be okay.