Actor Aaron Schwartz joins the podcast to discuss dating with depression. The hosts share personal experiences and offer advice on seeking validation, boosting mood through styling, dating someone with depression, and exploring different avenues for dating. They also touch on navigating depression in a relationship and the importance of understanding and communication.
Finding like-minded individuals who respect traditional values requires taking a proactive approach in exploring religious communities, matchmaking agencies, or niche dating sites.
Effective communication involves expressing values with empathy, actively listening to potential partners' perspectives, and understanding that rejection can occur but finding the right person who respects and appreciates one's values is worth the effort.
Partners of individuals with depression should prioritize understanding, patience, and appreciation for their efforts, rather than using tough love, in order to support and maintain a healthy relationship.
Deep dives
Struggling with Traditional Values in Dating
The writer, a 30-year-old virgin, shares their belief in saving themselves for marriage, but has faced difficulties finding a partner who respects this. When they open up about their stance on sex, potential girlfriends tend to pull away or mock them. Despite their success in life, they feel frustrated and question why women claim they want a good man but fail to respect one. They feel discouraged, seeing other men who don't hold their values enjoying more success in dating. The writer seeks advice on how to navigate this situation, as they are ready to settle down but are getting fed up with the lack of understanding and respect for their values.
Understanding Others' Perspectives and Values
While the writer's traditional values and desire to save themselves for marriage are deeply personal and respectable, it's important to recognize that times have changed. It's essential to understand that not everyone shares the same values and beliefs, and it's unfair to expect them to. The writer should consider reframing their perspective and taking a proactive approach to finding like-minded individuals who respect their values. They can explore religious communities, matchmaking agencies, or niche dating sites to increase their chances of connecting with someone who shares their beliefs and desires for a committed relationship.
Communication and Empathy are Key
When discussing their values with potential partners, the writer should focus on open and honest communication. It's crucial to express their values with empathy and avoid being cold or dismissive. By explaining their stance on sex before marriage, being understanding of others' perspectives, and actively listening to their potential partner's feelings and beliefs, the writer may have better chances of finding someone who respects and appreciates their values. It's also important to remember that rejection and misunderstandings can occur, but finding the right person who truly understands and respects their values is worth the wait and effort.
Importance of Understanding and Supporting a Partner with Depression
It is crucial for partners to understand and support individuals with depression. Depression can affect relationships by creating a third entity that constantly takes priority over the person and their partner. However, it is difficult for the partner to know what the best course of action is, as the person with depression may not even know how to help themselves. Instead of using tough love, partners should show understanding, patience, and appreciation for their efforts. Acknowledging the challenges faced and expressing admiration for their resilience can make a significant difference.
The Importance of Accommodating and Assertiveness in Relationships
In relationships, it is important to strike a balance between being accommodating and assertive. While being accommodating can be seen as positive, being overly accommodating may lead to the loss of attraction and being considered a pushover. On the other hand, being assertive and setting boundaries is seen as attractive, but being too aggressive may be perceived as being a jerk. The key is to find the right balance by being assertive about one's needs and values while also considering and respecting the needs of the partner. It is essential to communicate openly and find common ground to build a healthy and fulfilling relationship.
In this week's Thanksgiving-break throwback episode, we have Mighty Ducks and Heavyweights actor Aaron Schwartz on to help us talk about how to date when also dealing with depression. It's that time of year where most of us lose an hour of daylight and we get down on our Vitamin D, so no better time to talk about how to juggle your mental health and dating than now.
>>To become MAGNETIC, charming, witty and a master at banter and dating, book a FREE call with Kristen Here: https://calendly.com/kristenandchill/magneticmanstrategysession
