My Husband’s Breakdown Was My Breakthrough

My Husband’s Breakdown Was My Breakthrough

From Modern Love by The New York Times

April 8, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 440

About this episode

Stefanie shares her experience of supporting her husband Jonathan through his severe depression and the personal revelations that followed.

It was Stefanie and Jonathan’s worst nightmare: Jonathan’s depression had become so severe he was begging to be taken to the hospital. Stefanie took him to the hospital and then took care of everything else for the family. When she married Jonathan years earlier, Stefanie knew about his mental health struggles. But she wasn’t prepared for this moment. Then, Stefanie fell apart too — and it was Jonathan’s turn to take care of her. In this episode, Anna talks to Stefanie about what it’s like to love someone through the worst of it, and what Stefanie learned about her own needs after years of ignoring them. You can read Stefanie’s original story in the Modern Love column. Listen to and Follow ‘Modern Love’ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube |iHeartRadio Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We Want to Hear From You Email us at modernlovepodcast@nytimes.com. Here’s how to submit a Modern Love essay. Here’s how to submit a Tiny Love Story.

People in this episode

Host: Anna

Guest: Stefanie

Topics covered

  • mental health
  • relationships
  • support
  • personal growth
  • love

Keywords

  • depression
  • mental health
  • support
  • love
  • personal needs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The New York Times

Books & works: Modern Love

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