Is it normal to be ashamed about dysthymia (chronic depression)?

8 Comments

I feel like almost my entire life I lived with depression but I either hide it, don't talk about it, or ignore it -- which to me sounds all the same. I've been to a psychologist when I was a teen (17 years old) but since I was a minor my parents had the right to know what I spoke about in my sessions, so every time I came to my "doctor" I said nothing of importance. Today, I'm still haunted by my past, but I'm afraid if I were to tell something to my family or friends even they would see me as feeble or with pity. I'm ashamed about it and back to where I was before -- hiding what I truly feel. So should I come out and say "Hey, I'm depressed and I wanna see a doctor." or should I just suck it up like I always do, and act like nothing is wrong? Any one has some experiences with one self or family who have gone through the same thing?

Yea, get over it. 1
No, you should talk about it. 16
I don't care, I don't have an opinion. 2
Maybe, I'm unsure. I never went through that. 2
None of the above. 1
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Comments ( 8 )
  • [Old Memory]
    7 years ago

    When I told my parents about my anxiety and depression(caused by physical diseases) they immediately mocked and belittled me. I still think I did the right thing though at least now I know their true colors.

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    • Ellenna
      7 years ago

      That's so sad and I'm sorry that happened to you. Some families are so crappy the only thing you can do is get away from them and create your own supportive family, plus of course getting professional help

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  • CarlTheBugFucker
    7 years ago

    I have been diagnosed with that along with panic/anxiety disorder. You need to talk to someone about it. Many succesfull people have also suffered from depression...Abraham Lincoln comes to mind for starters. Good luck, things will get better if you talk about it.

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  • Tempest-au
    7 years ago

    I've been hounded by the black dog of depression for most of my life, and I'm nearly 50 now. When I was younger, I tried to keep it a secret, even deny its existence to myself. I'm not saying everyone is the same, but all my pretending it didn't exist did was allow it to fester and grow to the point I tried to take my own life.

    Depression, particularly chronic depression, rarely goes away or gets better without some sort of treatment (be that psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, excercise therapy, pharmacological therapy, or a combination of any/all). Go see a doctor and get help now, before you end up signed into a psychiatric hospital because you finally decided life wasn't worth living any more.

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    • Ellenna
      7 years ago

      Good response and good advice

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  • Smokey1D
    7 years ago

    Let them know and ask to see a doctor you like and trust. Drs don't reveal things you've talked about - it's confidential. Hope you feel better soon.

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  • misslonglegs
    7 years ago

    My dad had chronic depression after he left the army he even attempted suicide once until he started talking about it he got help and lived a reasonable live with many happy times

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  • Ellenna
    7 years ago

    If you're no longer a minor, what's stopping you from getting help without necessarily telling your family about it?

    Please stop hiding it, but you need to find supportive people to talk to rather than your ignorant family. As a first step, call an anonymous crisis line and talk to someone there, then move on to professional help. Please don't put this off, the longer you procrastinate the more entrenched the depression will become.

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