Embarrassed

Hello,

I was diagnosed with reactive depression almost 2 years ago. I have been taken off the medication since Dec 2013 and I thought I had beat depression. I never realized that I would need to learn how to cope with my emotions to make sure I never fell into depression again. I have been so scared of snapping back into depression that I become anxious and ruin relationships.

I really liked this man and he knew about my depression and everything. Then one day I got a little too revealing about how I was afraid of getting hurt. He then backed off telling me he couldn't give me what I needed right now. He said he wasn't in a place to support me emotionally because he was getting over his divorce and I wasn't ready for anything serious either. He was really nice about it, but when he told me I wasn't ready I felt like maybe I would snap back into depression. I got scared and needed reassurance from him that I didn't do anything wrong. I became really annoying to the point that he will no longer respond to me.

Has anyone ever been embarrassed of a mental illness to the point that it ruins a possible relationship? Do you think this man will ever forgive me for how I acted?

Yes, I have done things in the pursuit of romantic relationships that I now find extremely embarrassing. I do have casual friendships with some of those people now. Others I avoid!

I think men sort of expect women to be a bit clingy and want reassurance, so what you did may not even be that outside the norm. It's too bad he couldn't have just said that he needed more time to get over his divorce instead of bringing up your depression.