How is this supportive?

I sometimes miss days at work because of depression. Sometimes it's because I just have absolutely no strength to leave home, or I break down crying and can't stop. Sometimes it's because the stress makes me feel like crap physically.
I know it doesn't look good to my employer. I already worry about that. On top of feeling low, I geel guilty every single time. And I HATE that I am this way. Believe me, I'd much rather NOT be suffering from depression and just go into work every day without having to fight the urge to go back to bed, curl into a ball and hide. And I DO fight every single day. Most days I win, but sometimes depression wins. The fact that my current depressive episode was caused by my work makes it extra hard. But I am trying my absolute best.

When I mention it to my parents, they tell me I should just push through, I shouldn't have called in sick. Mostly my dad. My mum tells me she worries. But the way both of them phrase it makes me feel like they're disappointed in me, that I've let them down. I'm pretty sure they don't mean it that way but..... How on earth can they possibly think those comments are helpful? And since I don't really have anyone else, when I don't get any support from my parents I feel completely alone and abandoned. I get that people who haven't experienced depression can never fully understand what it's like. But isn't it just plain common sense that when someone is already suffering emotionally, YOU DON'T ADD EVEN MORE PRESSURE!!! Don't make them feel like they let YOU down - it's not about you!!
It's like they don't believe that I am really trying, so hard. It's not like I just don't feel like going to work, so I stay at home. I don't want to stay home, I want to work!!

Maybe I should just keep it to myself when I've stayed home from work. But then who do I talk to? And I don't want to lie to them or hide it from them.

Perhaps they don't mean to sound disappointed. Perhaps they're just worried. After all, you said it might be just an impression...

Perhaps you can talk this out with them?

I don't know. The older generation was brought up to think that depression is malingering.

It is really hard to know what other people are thinking.

Ultimately it doesn't matter what others think because if we don't take care of ourselves when we need it, we risk becoming worse.

Are your employers supportive?
Best Wishes and hugs

I agree that if we don’t take care of ourselves in whatever way we need to, we do risk becoming worse

BreakForTheLight, no advice here but just leaving you some love and hugs

Have you gone to any in-person support groups where you are able to connect with people who experience mental health issues? That is what I have been trying to do in my area, and I have found at least one where I feel comfortable enough to share and know that I am being heard by people who can relate in some way. I see that you have been a part of these forums for a few years, so it is good that you have had this outlet.

Are you seeing a therapist at the moment? Maybe you can ask if you can bring your parents with you to a session, so that the therapist can shed some light on things and answer any questions they might have. I did that with my folks many years back, and it was helpful to begin the process for them to become more supportive, even if they didn't fully understand.

As a parent, I understand there is a tendency to worry so deeply that you think if you show too much compassion it might be interpreted as giving permission for you to just give up. Lots of people don't understand MI much less all the different diagnoses. And parents most of the time love their kids so completely they are lost on how to help.