Years ago, I went through a period of at least minimizing how depressed I was and, thinking back, the reasons were probably mostly fear of how other people would react - and maybe rightly so. Then, even more than now, there was such stigma with any kind of emotional problems and then if you required medication, you were really considered to be a "case." I put up with thoughtless, ignorant comments from my parents, my husband and even some friends. I tried to keep it a secret from people at work, but there came a point when I couldn't do that any more and I know it affected how I was perceived at work for the rest of my career. I'm not sorry I got help, just sorry that there are still so many misconceptions about people with any kind of mental illness that it can lead to delay in getting help.
Yes indeed. I guess things are a little easier these days but the stigma around any form of mental illness still thrives. It's especially ironic when you consider that many of the people throwing their views around either have had, or are possibly experiencing their own issues. Maybe it's just another form of denial, by attempting to deflect attention onto others.
Thanks again, Judy. Always good to hear from you.
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I don't feel like there is any way I could have denied depression. It had too great an effect on my life to ignore it or try to convince anyone else I wasn't depressed. When I was diagnosed, at 16 back in the mid 70's, I didn't know what it was, I only knew something was dreadfully wrong and I would have done anything to make it go away.
But my Dad? He was obviously dreadfully depressed and he never would admit it, so I know what you're talking about. To him, all mental illnesses were "psychosomatic" and "not real" and to tell him he was depressed was to say he was not only faking it but was less than a man. And crazy on top of that.