OPRMC, feeling depressed is awful. It is depressing being depressed! I understand what you mean by not being able to share with your family. Some, like mine, use it against you or take it personally somehow. It is weird.

I also understand that many people do not understand depression. They can be cruel, too, and dismissive. The buck up expectation/comment is pretty awful.

Members have shared here on other threads the most irritating and annoying comments and cliches people spew to/at/about depression and how frustrating it is. The simply just do not get it. The good thing is, we do.

Please try to not compare yourself to others who you feel have more of a reason to feel depressed. We all are unique snowflakes that brought us to this point...it is all important and real. However we landed here it is all important and real.

I wanted to also mention that FB is probably one of the WORST places to go when we are feeling depressed. Yes, some of our friends are living "the life" but most are getting by and have challenges, as well. They are just not talking about it on their pages. Unless they are looking for support and/or sympathy. But even then, it is masked.

Depression and other mental health issues are insidious because there is still a (weird) stigma attached. Many people do not understand that it is as real, miserable and scary as other challenges human beings face.

They say things like, "you have everything. You have been given everything. How could you possibly be depressed?" Well, that is bullhockey. There is more to life than being "given" things. And "things" do not make us happy or represent who we are in our spirits.

Frankly, my friends that seem to be living the life, on and off FB, are also covering up things with alcohol, shopping, trips, vacations, etc. There is usually stuff going on behind the scenes that we just dont know about.

The bottom line, too, is that we call them "friends" on FB, but are they really our friends if we cannot tell them how we are feeling? They may be superficial or "fun" people that we know, but arent really our friends. Just something to think about.

I encourage you to keep posting, sharing...when you feel comfortable, you can share even more. You mentioned some family "pressures" and some challenges you have faced with your mother.

Many of us can relate to that ,as well. In fact, I became depressed in large part because of my relationship with my family and a parent that put wayyy too much pressure on me to be something that I didnt want to be. And never would /could be: perfect.