A side effect of some medications given to people suffering from depression is mood swings. While this may seem ironic and cruel, it is fact. How do you deal with this, when you are the watching your significant other go from happy to upset to depressed back to happy. How do you reassure them when they are up and down, especially when the medication is supposed to be curing this very problem?

There are a few things that you can do to help. The first is to offer consistency. Regardless of their mood, offer the same support that you have been offering. Make sure that your partner knows that you understand what they are going through and that you are supporting them no matter what. It is also important that you understand that the best way to deal with mood swings is not to ignore them, but to acknowledge them. Sometimes your significant other will require more help and other times they will be more self-reliant. Going with the flow is crucial in this scenario.

If you find that there are more downward swings, or that you find the upward swings to be shorter or less effective, then it might be something to point out. If the side effects of the drug are causing worse symptoms than the original disease, the medication is clearly problematic. Sometimes it is hard for the person taking the medication to notice the situation. You need to make sure that you bring the scenario to their attention so they can make sure that the therapist and psychiatrist are aware of the problems.