How?

[Hannah Banana]

Despite knowing lots of people who do and who continue to have depression, i find it very difficult to say back to them that i'm depressed and am on anti-depressants. Only my girlfreind knows (and is very supportive).

How do you tell people?

[seh1980]

hello there,

I think that the main reson that we don't like telling people about our problems is that we think that there is something 'wrong' with us and we are ashamed. maybe as soon as we realise that we have nothing to hide, we will feel more comfortable talking about it...

Sarah

[JPF]

Hi Hannah Banana

There is a perceived stigma with any mental conditions which I think dates back to the old Victorian (and earlier) 'pay a penny and visit the asylum' kind of attitude.. definitely a legacy of the bad old days..

When people are ill they're ill and really depression is no more shameful than say having asthma - it's just a condition caused by something behaving other than it should do in your body and causing complications...

I think we're starting to make progress with people's attitudes towards things like this.. for whatever my opinion's worth, maybe tell only your close friends, or people you trust and start from there..? I've been suffering from panic attacks and I've told some people about it and not others.. I think people who haven't suffered with depression or anxiety have a hard time understanding it, unless they've seen family members suffering too (my family has quite a few depressives in it) but I think general acceptance of the problem is getting better, gradually..

Remember, you have nothing to be ashamed about - it's not a weakness, it's not a character flaw any more than being colour blind or a million and one other conditions which make us who we are - individuals all

Good luck and good health

J

[vernon]

hi, welcome to the site. I think its like JP says. I used to be ashamed to talk about it or admit it at one time but it doesnt bother me anymore if people cant accept me for what i am i dont need them. good luck, Vernon

Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.

[razocaine_07]

hi, the reason why i think people hold back is the stigma attached to mental illness and everything that revolves around it. People can pass judgement far too easily sometimes. I only tell people i trust and there are some things that i will always keep to myself. Remember though, a problem shared is a problem halved

[Tracy68]

Hi
I remember when i suffered with depression the only person who knew was my ex husband. I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone because I thought they would think i was a failure. How wrong i was. When i did tell my friends i was so amazed at the support they gave me. Maybe just try telling a close friend to start with. I think you will be surprised at the outcome.
Take care
Tracy
x

[FAN]

i have the same problem which is probably silly as i get no support from anyone but i think because you cant see depression people cant understand it...........if it brought us out in big red blotches or something maybe people might understand more

fan x

[stimpy]

Fan is right there.

Just because we aren't polka dot covered, it doesn't mean we don't have problems.

Depression and depression related disorders are more common than you might think. At one time or another 1 out of 3 people have suffered at sometime in their lives.

I find unless people ask me, I tell them very little.

Love, light and Best wishes
Liz xxx
With hard work and determination and all the things you know.
The world is there for you to take. There's nowhere you can't go.


[]Scatty Eccentric & 'Poet Laureate to panic and anxiety'

[carlin]

Hi there, i have suffered with anxiety and other related problems for over sixteen years now, in the beginning i tended to keep things to myself, over the years i have found that by explaining (briefly at first), people tend to be understanding and supportive. i try not to dwell on it, but i have had so many 'situations' that a small explanation as to why i need to sit in the aise on the airplane or in the school hall, and why i find it easier near the door does help. None of us have anything whatsoever to be ashamed of and i have found that peoples attitudes have changed over the years, for the better, i might add good luck

[Hannah Banana]

Thanks all for your replies. I think many of you are right in saying that feeling ashamed has a lot to do with not telling people. The thought of being asked 'Why are you down?' just send shivers down my spine. It's often as though there's a physical barrior to saying 'i'm depressed', words often escape me, even with close freinds. I often get very anxious when i have an opportunity to talk about my depression, that when i stop trying and keep it in, i feel better and less anxious.

I often just don't know who to speak to. My partner is very supportive but finds it very hard to cope with a lot of the stuff i say, i also would'nt expect her to take it all on her shoulders. i have a lot of self destructive thoughts which i really want to vent somehow and have often gone to her for support, understandably so, she finds it very hard to listen too.

Sorry people, for off loading.

Thanks for listening (reading).