health issues. My niece is bi-polar, my (other) sister has a selective reality, dad was depressed and I think my mother may have had a slight bi-polar issue, my brother is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I tried to commit suicide when a teen and received no help from anyone when I told my mother. So anyways I told my sister (not the one with a "selective reality" that I was diagnosed and her response was a sarcastic "Your Depressed?" after which she made no other comments until I was ready to leave and then she said "well, sorry you're depressed" in that fake sweet sing songy voice - I think she thinks I "fooled" the doctor to get the diagnosis (she doesn't believe I attempted suicide either - when I mentioned it a few years ago she completely ignored me). I have googled for ways to talk to people about depression and how I would like her to be able to support me, but all the articles I could find are the other way - for family or friends to talk to the depressed person, not how I can talk to HER about MY depression. Any advice? She's a doctor - it's not that she doesn't believe in depression, I think she just doesn't believe ME.
Q: I was recently diagnosed with Clinical Depression and my doctor says it sounds like I've had it a long time without being treated for it. We have a family history of depression and other mental
Hi, Erica. Depression can be a very lonely condition, partly because we can isolate ourselves and partly because it's difficult for anyone who hasn't experienced it to understand it. Most don't want to hear about it. In my family, I never talk about it and I figured out that my parents and siblings are really to afraid to hear it, afraid it might have something to do with them and afraid it might make them look at themselves. If your family members haven't gotten help or haven't recovered, they might not want to be reminded of it. Or, they just don't want to admit that a family member could have something like that wrong with them.
Are you seeing a therapist? If not, you might find that helpful - it's one place you can talk and not worry about being judged. You can also write here any time, write a sharepost or respond to others. We're here to listen and help where we can.
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