17 year old girl in desperate need of help

[idfklol1]

Ok so my girlfriend and I have been dating for a little over 5 months and she recently has opened up to me about how she has been feeling. She explained to me how she has been depressed for at least a year I think but she hasnt explained how long it has been. She has cut herself several times when she feels really bad about herself. She lacks confidence in herself and cant give herself credit for the good in herself. If I compliment her she accepts it and enjoys when I tell her she's beautiful and that I'll support her and what not. But I've rarely seen her when she gets depressed because she is always in a good mood when she sees me, but when she feels depressed is at night. I've read that this is because you settle down at night and concentrate more on the depression? She is extremely independent and is hard headed which is why I don't understand how she can't get so depressed. We have talked about it a couple times and she does not want to take meds and I'm assuming she doesn't want to do therapy. I don't know if there are any other options for her. I've tried all I can do myself and it has had a little change in her, she usually doesn't hurt herself now but I would love if she didn't feel this depression that she feels during most of the nights but I need help and advice cause its not like she's some person who is crazy and isn't in the right mind, she is completely perfetly normal and she is an absolutely gorgeous girl. PLEASE HELP

[idfklol1]

I have literally done all of this. I don't push it too much on here yet I'm always willing yo listen and be there to help. I never tell her that it has a big negative affect on my life, etc but ive been slowly trying to guide her towards help and she doesn't really accept it very much. She is too embarresed to talk to her doctor (which I don't blame her) but I think its something that needs to be done.. I support her in every way im just not sure what else I can do but as time goes on nothing seems to get better. Is there anything you think I'm doing wrong?... Also sometimes.. Well often she is worried that I will leave her (which I'm not going to do) and I tell her I'm her to stay butshe can't accept that. She also feels bad for me being such a great boyfriend to her and i always try my best. But she doesn't realize how great of a girlfriend she really is. Thanks for the advice..

[Coytee]

You are not alone, I am also going through a similar situation with my boyfriend and at the same time struggling with depression myself. I'm not as bad as I used to be but I used to cut all the time and attempted and thought about suicide many times. I've tried therapy, meds, hospitalization, but none of that worked.

If you say she is very independent and hard headed (like myself) then i'm afraid these things won't work for her either. Depression doesn't go away so easy and it'll take a very very long time so if you want to help her through this you're going to have to be committed to this. There isn't very much one can do to help (this is from my experience, it wouldn't necessarily work for everyone and since I don't know much about your girlfriend i'm really not sure if it would work for her.) the most you can do is just support her through her rough times.

Always be there to listen if she wants to talks, never push the subject, if her depression is having an affect on you talk it out with her gently and reassure her that you'll be there for her through thick and thin.. telling her that her depression is having a negative affect on you will only make her depression worse so think about your words carefully, reassure her often that you're there for her whenever and make sure you make time for her when she is down... not making this time will only make her feel lonely, plan cute and special dates for her and continue complimenting and making her feel special.

A fake smile is easy to put on, so try not to get fooled by that. These are all the things I suggest that you can do for her, the rest she needs to figure out on her own. To break it down simply always be there for her but never push the subject, you want to lift her spirits not push them down even deeper.

I know it's tough not being able to do much, but this is something she needs to sort out and figure out by herself, I found that it was the best way to deal with depression myself... Sites like these to voice your feelings would also be great for her.

I hope my advice helps, and if it doesn't, I really do hope your girlfriend finds a way to recover from this, she sounds amazing. <3 :)