[gina_re]

Does anyone else disappear when really depressed? I tend to turn my phone off. And I'm not intentionally trying to have anyone worry, but I just can't talk to anyone. But of course that puts everyone into panic mode. So I'm left with two options: leave my phone on and just ignore all calls/texts or turn it off and have everyone terrified when their calls go straight to voicemail.

[Gabyunbound]

Maybe change your message to that you can't talk right now, but call at a later date? Or are there people you wouldn't want to hear that message? You could say in the message that you're not feeling well right now -as in flu or something...

[JustJace2u]

I just have my voicemail say I can't answer the phone right now and I'll call them back when I'm able to. I know how you feel.

[SickCycleCarousel]

Yeah i do those things too, with whats going on in my life right now, i tend to shut myself down alot now. Sometimes im that crippled with anxiety & so low that i completely isolate myself, i start going in & out of a catatonic state for days or weeks, i cant physically move, show emotion, i cant even speak, i just become so numb from everything, its so hard to break out of that state sometimes, other times it helps me to just stop & deal with everything racing in my mind, or i just become frozen in one spot for hours & i have no idea of what day or time it is, it can be hell!

My family knows that even at the best of times I am uncomfortable on the phone. There is no difference then in whether I don't answer it because I'm Depressed or just afraid to in the first place. They all know to either leave a voice message or text - and they understand I won't immediately return either. If it is really an important matter they will ring me twice in a row. Naturally I get even more anxious but I realize it is necessary to take the call.

I always check who is calling. My cellphone (Samsung) has an option to text back various messages as to why I can't pick up the phone. Check to see if yours might do the same.

[searching4732]

Yeah... I screen my calls and let most things go to voicemail. It just takes so much energy to talk to people sometimes.

[jacky8807]

Yeah I totally disappear when depressed. I feel you on this one. I can get close to catatonic when severely depressed and I live in my own world

[hopeless2015]

Yep, my mom always knows when my phone goes straight to voice mail I'm in trouble. Isolation is what I crave, but it's really not good for me

[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

I do this, too. Shut the phone off, don't return calls/texts that aren't necessary. I even created a filtered folder in my email so that I don't get alerts from new stuff in my inbox if my phone is on. When I'm headed down that hole, I usually answer a few calls and things from people I talk to a lot and just mention that I'm getting really swamped or something, so that they have a reason in mind when I stop reaching out or responding for awhile.

I don't know how else to handle it - the isolation is the only thing that feels semi-OK. And it sucks, because then it reinforces the depression, but I feel awful and the depression feels worse if I force myself to socialize - like I pay later for socializing & putting my depression off, if that makes sense.

[Unrigged64072835]

I normally don't answer my phone anyway because I have it set on vibrate and I usually don't notice.

I try to disappear when I'm depressed but my husband usually finds me. That's okay, because I feel comfortable with telling him what's going on.

[OctobersBlackRose]

I usually always have my phone on vibrates I don't really disappear cause I only have phone numbers for family, no real life friends to speak of, so everyone knows I'm at home in my room...

[scatterbrained04]

I tend to just ignore the calls. I don't usually get very many though.

[Wild Coyote]

It's next to impossible to reach me directly by phone.
I have problems shifting attention, so it's very difficult to suddenly answer the phone, shifting attention to the call/caller.

I often have calls go to voicemail and I return them. People can reach me directly if we text first and set a time to talk and I can then be totally available to the call.

When I am very depressed, I do not return calls very quickly. I often do not want to "chat" much.


WC

[Yours_Truly]

Yep, it's probably the main reason I have only one friend left.

Disappear, yes.
Pretty sure it wouldn't be noticed if I turned my phone off. Aside from occasional text from sister, I just use it texting with BF (and it's my internet access).
(BF would generally already know my deal, since we live together.)

So, no one to worry.

Phone phobic anyway. Not unusual for months to pass before being able to make calls. (No matter how important.)

[wiretwister]

the last time I did , never got out of bed that day , they sent a co-worker to check on me ... they thought I might have offed myself ...