Depressing an excuse for cheating?

[ringa]

My best friend found at her boyfriend of six months has been cheating on her for about a month. At first she was very upset and said she thought she would be able to let him go and have him out of her life for good. After talking to him, he said that he cheated on her (with two girls) because he has been diagnosed with depression and did not know how to deal with it. He said he is getting help for the first time and his family is invovled now and everything will be better. Can depression lead to cheating? This is not the first time he has cheated on a girlfriend, he cheated on his previous girlfriend as well.

Now she does not want to let him go because she wants to be there while he is getting help. Can someone like this ever actually change? He has also been known to be a pathological liar...can this be due to his depression?

I do not know anything about depression so I do not feel capable of giving her proper advice. I dont feel right letting her stay with him I just think he is bad news.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[LeftCoastChick]

If he is using that excuse, maybe there is some other psychological thing going on, but when people write it's their "best friend" it's usually them. If it is your best friend, for her own health, as he's done risky behaviour which is dangerous for her, she really needs to consider leaving, if he doesn't get serious mental help. Promiscuity does happen with other disorders, though not an excuse.

[Jennifer78]

I think he is trying to manipulate your friend into staying with him.  Depression or not, he shouldn't be cheating on her.  I was involved with a pathological liar and cheater (didn't know it at the time).  The best thing I ever did was leave him.  He says he is getting help but he continues to spiral down a bad bad path.  Your friend might not listen to you but I think it's best for her to get out of the situation.  I think she'll just continue to be hurt especially if he has cheated in the past.  If he really has depression he needs to concentrate on himself right now and get the help he needs.  She doesn't have to stand by him, he will be fine.  She can not save him or change him.  Only he can do that for himself.  Hope that helps.