In addition to medication or psychotherapy, physical exercise can be very effective at improving the mental health states of people with  depression. Staying active provides mood-enhancing chemicals called endorphins that can make your boyfriend feel better about himself. It can also provide a positive distraction from some of the negative thoughts and feelings he has that contribute to his mood. Consider a shared activity that you and your boyfriend can do together that will provide health-promoting benefits to the both of you. Suggestions might include new fitness class in the gym, a home workout program, running in the park, or participating in group sports. Researchers believe there’s a connection between diet and depression. This doesn’t mean that your boyfriend’s late-night junk food habit caused him to feel so low, but, it does imply that maintaining this unhealthy habit could keep him stuck in a negative mood state. Help your boyfriend stock his fridge with heart and brain healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and limited amounts of meats and dairy which have been associated with lower rates for depression. You can help your boyfriend minimize the stress in his everyday life by introducing him to healthy stress coping skills. Firstly, ask him to write down all the things in his life that are causing him stress or  anxiety. Then, work together to brainstorm ways you can reduce or eliminate these stressors. Next, create a list of go-to strategies he can incorporate into his daily life to relax and keep stress at bay. Possible activities that may help him to manage stress include  deep breathing, going for walks in nature, listening to music, meditating, writing in a journal, or watching funny movies or videos. Creating a mood chart can help your boyfriend get in touch with his feelings, and become more aware of how he feels from day to day. People with depression can track their sleeping and eating habits to look for patterns that lead to negative mood states. Your boyfriend can also write down his thought patterns and feelings each day to spot fluctuations in his mood. Both men and women who are dealing with depression tend to withdraw socially. Unfortunately, maintaining social connections can actually help depressed persons reduce feelings of isolation and fight depression. Come up with activities that you and your boyfriend can do with others so that he can forge new bonds. Or, talk to his existing friends and encourage them to get together. Yes, your boyfriend will have to recover in his own time and in his own way. However, you may worry that you are enabling him to continue the cycle of depression. If you are doing so much for your boyfriend that it removes any potential for him to gather the strength to do for himself, then you might need to back off. Try being supportive instead of enabling. Gently push your boyfriend to be physical active, join in on social activities, or get some fresh air, without demonstrating “tough love” or neglecting him. Your boyfriend wants you to show empathy and love, but he does not need for you to take all the responsibility of healing away from him.
اقترحي عليه نشاطًا بدنيًا تفعلاه سويًا. تأكدي أنه يأكل طعامًا صحيًا. ساعديه أن يكتشف طرق للتعامل مع التوتر. يُفضل أن يحتفظ بمذكرات لمزاجه العام. ساعديه في التواصل مع الأخرين. ابتعدي عن محاولة تأهيل حبيبك.