I've been dealing with depression for the past few years, but I've only recently begun getting help for it. I've reached a really stable place in my life in the past few months. Until about three months ago I hadn't told anyone. Not my family, friends, or classmates. It was more out of a need to focus on myself and my own mental health before I could even begin thinking about trying to explain to anyone else what I was going through.

After really working through it I told two of my really close friends. The issue is that I did not tell them because I wanted them to help me or because I wanted sympathy. I told them because they were close friends and I trusted and loved them enough to let them know. Because there may come a day when I do need them to be there and support me. Instead it turned into me spending time and energy making them comfortable.

It's not that I minded explaining to them what depression is and what it isn't, but now it feels as if our friendship has changed. Now when I say I'm stressed over a test or something that has happened in my everyday life (things that I've always said and done) my friends seem to go on alert and act as if I could break at any given moment.

It's frustrating and I've really been trying to work myself up to tell my parents about my depression. However I don't know if I want to tell them if I'm going to get the same treatment as I am from my friends. I love them, but I'm getting the help I need from a professional, and I don't need counseling from my friends and family, I just need them to support me like they always have.

So my question is if you've had successful methods of telling people and explaining to them without altering their behavior towards you?