[njbjpdjadm221]

Every time I even think about telling someone that I might be depressed, I get really nervous. I guess it's sort of like anxiety and I feel like I physically cannot do it. I do really want to tell someone sometimes. I know in my head that it's the right thing to do, but the nervousness always gets in the way and prevents me from letting anyone know. I know I won't get better unless I start talking to people about being sad, but I can't. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to. I don't know why this is happening to me.

There are many people who have this issue... Talk to us

[likelife]

It probably took me years to work up the nerve to say anything about being depressed. It's been very, very helpful to do so. I think it's normal to be worried about how you'll be received, so choosing the right people to open up to is obviously important. And, like Lola said, you can always start talking to us.

[ECHOES]

When I have something to talk about in therapy that is difficult to say, I will first say "It makes me feel really anxious to say this..." and that seems to help.

[Sannah]

If you are expecting that a time will come when you will be comfortable talking about these things for the first time, I don't think that this is possible. I have discussed many things feeling awful - red faced, white faced, shaking, crying...... Talking about it (with the right person of course) is the first step to feeling better. Anticipation is usually worse than the actual event. You can actually feel worse fearing something than actually facing it. I always felt better after facing something.

[stopdog]

For what it is worth, I have not found talking about it helps any.

[Syra]

Things I consider when it's hard to talk about something:

1. just say one word and let them respond

2. write it out (maybe one word, maybe a sentence, maybe a paragraph, maybe a rambling missive).

3. tell T I have something I think I should talk about but I don't want to. then we talk about "it" being difficult, without specifying what "it" is. What am I afraid will happen. Why is it hard to talk about. I think I do this one most often. And if that is too scary, then I'd talk about why it's hard/scary/whatever to talk about talking about it being hard to talk about something.

4. Ask T: If I were to talk about "x" how would you feel?

[sconnie892]

I was incredibly anxious the first time I talked to someone about my anxiety/depression issues. It helped that it was a trusted pastor I went to who then referred me to my t. I was so nervous for my first appointment I almost missed the turn to get to t's office. I still get anxious about talking with t sometimes, although it has gotten much better with time. I used to write out what I wanted to share and just read it. Somehow that made it easier. Some t's might even read what you wrote. And like Lola said, you can talk to all of us here.

[wotchermuggle]

Originally Posted by njbjpdjadm221

Every time I even think about telling someone that I might be depressed, I get really nervous. I guess it's sort of like anxiety and I feel like I physically cannot do it. I do really want to tell someone sometimes. I know in my head that it's the right thing to do, but the nervousness always gets in the way and prevents me from letting anyone know. I know I won't get better unless I start talking to people about being sad, but I can't. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to. I don't know why this is happening to me.

Maybe the key is to finding the RIGHT person to tell. Like a therapist.