Do you guys find that your depression affects your personality?

I noticed that when I'm at school, I usually act normal, but I may be quieter than usual. People wouldn't know I had depression unless I told them, but I'm sure its different for everyone. I was just curious if your depression affects your social life.

Hello & Welcome, Mn136.

A combination of depression and anxiety slowly extinguished my social life.

May that not happen to you.

I'm usually pretty good at hiding it, but sometimes when it gets real bad like lately then I have a hard time talking at all or responding to people. I have to force myself to go out even tho I'd rather just sit in my room and cry, because I know it'll be better for me. But I know I act differently. I'm barely even able to eat sometimes because I might just throw up immediately if I'm feeling sad enough.

On the one hand, depression and anxiety impact my social life tremendously because I withdraw. On the other, when I tell people I have severe depression they can't believe it because I don't present that way.

When I was really sick, people could just tell I was messed up. Some people took advantage of it...

Now, after 17 years of work, my personality is the "truth".

It doesn't affect my personality...it IS my personality. I don't think people know it's depression, they just think I'm weird.

Well, people tell me I used to more jovial.

I fond some more disturbing changes to have ever been thinking of the loss of my joie de vivere, which I used to ascribe to my age back then.

I'm gloomier, I have loss of energy, attention, interest and memory...what makes up for most of our personality. So yeah... After I finally made it through all the barriers in my life, the process left me with depression which impedes the 1st shoot at freedom and success I have in life. Figures.

I've had depression for so long (since I was 11, I'm 26 now), that I don't even know how to answer this question. I don't know my personality without depression.

Yes it does at times but ask ur coworkers or those around you for true answer. It will shock you. May scare you too.

I'm in a similar boat as bronzeowl. I've have depression since single digits. I don't know life without it.

It has basically become my personality at this point. It can be seen in my eyes at all times, even when I smile.

Come to think of it perhaps my jovial moments were episodes of manic disorder. Maybe I collected several disorders along the way. No way to tell.
I suffered astounding loss of motivation at 12.

Depression certainly influences my personality, but the effects aren't all bad. I'm very sensitive, which can cause difficulties, but it also helps me empathize with other people. I tend to be quiet around others, but that gives them an opportunity to talk, which a lot of people appreciate.

Is personality a skeletal thing, or a projection outwards?

This philosophical perspective of mine on personalities has been bothering me regarding who I am.

If there's one thing I can tell about depression, it affects how YOU interact with the outside world.

It doesn't affect my personality (as I understand the term), but it makes me very risk averse, worried, pessimistic, withdrawn and passive.