Some people don't want to go into serious discussions because they don't want to reveal too much about themselves. Others are uncomfortable talking about depression and how it makes you feel. They may be afraid of saying the wrong thing and further upsetting you, or just have no experience dealing with depression. Listening in general is somewhat of a lost art. Have you ever noticed how difficult it is for a group to be quiet while someone else in that group is talking? Invariably, someone will break in to add their two cents.

Making friends is hard when you are depressed. If you develop depression when you already have several friends, usually many of them will slowly start to fall away. The ones that are left are true friends. They stand by you no matter what, and they are hard to find. They don't have to be physically with you to be friends though. I know that for most people, in situations in which you want someone to listen to your pain, a warm body is preferable, but in absence of that, you can come here. People here know what you mean and how you feel. We may not have identical experiences, but we all know about that pain and the isolation that can come with it.

I guess people have always been uncomfortable with both physical and emotional pain to a degree. We are taught as children how to be polite, but not how to help someone through an emotional crisis. Please let us be your friends. Someone will come along down the road for you. Believe that.

Sam2