Should I feel angry? Is my interpretation accurate?

Greetings everyone. I apologize in advance for the rant below, but I need to get this off my chest.

Two months ago I was diagnosed with GAD and Dysthymia. I am now 20-years old, and I had unknowingly been suffering from this debilitating condition since I was 14-years old that progressively got worse as I aged. Next, prior to treatment with an antidepressant (which took place since my diagnosis in early June), I was unable to sustain an interest in many activities. I isolated myself in my room, had no friends, but was able to excel in University with a 4.0 GPA. I had no interest in anything, and was unsure why and I accepted it as part of my personality and so did my parents. However, since treatment with an SSRI has taken place I have successfully been able to regain happiness that I had lost all these years. I was now able to get involved in activities and feel happy. I am now playing tennis, trumpet, golf, --- things I haven't done in years. As a result, my parents claimed to have felt ashamed because they felt unaware I was depressed. However, despite this circumstance I have noticed very rarely do they confront me on why I felt depressed and anxious all these years. I have talked to them only a few times but it was absolutely nothing specific and in-depth. I would like to talk to them about certain triggers. For example, some triggers that transpired was when my parents would respond to my anxiety with, "Oh, not this again!" or "Would you cut it out?!" which led to me feeling shame, and then to a depression. Subsequently, one other event that angered me was when my parents would say things to me in the past (when I was depressed) like: "Would you quit being depressed? You're always miserable." I couldn't help it, and they made me feel worse. In all honesty, it angers me that they don't talk to me more about this because my life has drastically changed---from better sleeping habits and higher energy to finally discovering my identity, I feel angered that they don't talk to me more about how I felt. Their attitude I interpret as, "Well, it happened in the past. Let's forget about it." Any thoughts? I am thankful for any responses, and I will respond promptly. Thank you again.

I'm sorry you had this experience. You have every right to be angry and disappointed. You needed support and your parents totally dropped the ball. The question going forward is how you can work through this so it doesn't continue to weigh you down. Do you need to see a therapist or write your parents a letter that you do or don't send or sit down and talk with them about this? I hope you can resolve your feelings. Btw, I do understand to an extent...my sister doesn't believe in mental illness and gives me a hard time about it. Best wishes.

I feel 90% better. I unfortunately feel as though that I will be scarred forever. This hurt me since I was 14, and I held irrational beliefs that I was worthless, stupid, etc all these years---mainly from bullying that transpired against me when I was in High School. It made me feel terrible. I never went to my parents because they couldn't help me cope. I believed I was weak not being able to handle this on my own.

I wanted to try new activities and new things, but I believed I wouldn't be able to succeed at it because I wasn't 'athletic' or 'wasn't coordinated', as what my family used to say to me. I then believed that it wasn't worth it to pursue, and I should stick with being on the computer all day where I belonged.

I'm sorry you were treated this way. It's absloutely understandable you'd feel angry/hurt. Unfortunately many parents don't understand depression.. and this si the result. You're not alone in this.. I can relate, I too have no interests or hobbies whatsoever.

I'm happy you've been able to find happiness for yourself

You have out grown the need to be Parented. Thus do not expect any more parenting from your parents. As smart as you are, you can continue on doing very well in life, knowing that your parents can not give the parenting you needed when you were younger.

Sorry to hear about being treated like. It seems they neglected you for a long time. You may want to see a therapist at your university. Most of them do have counseling services. Or find a community health clinic that has sliding scale for payments.