Quote:
Originally Posted by natani_girl
As far as public interactions go, I feel that if I try to talk about my depression with my friends (who a lot of them are also troubled teens) they will say how self centered I am and that their lives are so much worse. Basically say I have no reason to be sad and I should get over it. I don't necessarily always wear the "happy face" though, only around the people I think would notice and disapprove.
If you're wondering why depressed people don't ask for the treatment they need, I can speak from that angle pretty well. I have no doubts I'm depressed in my own mind, but until the school psychologist (who I see regularly but can't diagnose me) reccomended that I might have depression, I thought they would yell at me or make me feel stupid and say why I don't. I'm also afraid of my parents finding out, because they have high expectations for me, I feel like I would disappoint them or make it feel like it's their fault. I also don't want my boyfriend (and best friend) to find out because I feel he would be uncomfortable with the fact that his girlfriend needs "treatment" or has "problems" because he comes from the stereotypical all-american home. Another big factor is that I don't want my family problems to come out in therapy, because I don't want my parents to be accused of abuse, or the story of my grandfather to come out that nobody knows about. I would prefer to keep all these things under wraps and just get the emotional help. So, I guess a lot of the reason I don't seek actual treatment is fear of now being "emotionally unstable".
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Hi Natani--I read your other post re your grandfather and I am glad that you were able to post some of your story. Good for you! I also think you should, at least, tell your therapist the whole scoops, else how else can he/she truly help you? You deserve to be happy. and just think, what if what you wondered about your grandfather is really true? shouldn't someone try to stop/help him, so that he cannot hurt another child? That is how the cycle is broken. I know many view there is a stigma about having mental illness but I hope as society evolves, that will lessen. I even hope that one day we will understand that abusers were probably abused themselves. As someone said, Hurt people hurt people. People should be applauded and praised for admitting that they have problems and are trying to seek help, or for being part of a process that stops someone else from being harmed. I hope you will come to realize that one day soon. The truth
really will set you free. (btw-you would be amazed at how many in "all American families" have mental issues.) If it might make it easier, you can try substituting the words "needs help" for "emotionally unstable". Good luck dear.