Opening Up About Your Depression: A Guide

Telling someone you have depression would be admitting that you struggle with a mental illness.

Unfortunately, the huge stigma of mental illness stops a lot of people from doing anything about depression. According to the World Health Organization, more than 75% of mental illnesses go untreated a year. Judgment or ridicule are common fears that stop people from having this conversation. 

The truth is that the only way you can treat your depression is by telling someone about it. It can be a doctor, a relative, a friend, or even an employer. Instead of living with your sadness, it just takes telling one person about your struggles for your life to change for the better. 

Here is a guide on how to open up about your depression.

Benefits of Opening Up

Talking about depression to a loved one can be scary if you are not sure of the reaction. You could be afraid that you will be looked at differently or will be scared of your actions. 

Having the courage to open up to someone you love and trust can be a very healing experience. There is a good chance that person will give you support and encouragement to avoid seeing you in pain. Even the National Alliance on Mental Health says that talking to a sympathetic person about your depression can reduce stress levels and improve your mood. If you speak to a trusted family member or friend, they will know how to respond if your depression worsens.

It is important to remember that you should not be alone in your feelings to avoid feelings of isolation, loneliness, hopelessness. Supportive people will remind you that you are not alone and you are loved.

Pick a Day

It is normal to feel scared when you feel like telling someone your struggles with depression. However, keeping in mind the benefits of talking to someone will reassure you that you are doing the right thing.

The wrong time to talk to someone is if you are too overwhelmed with emotion. Devastating feelings can make it hard to talk when fighting back tears. The right time to talk is when you are in a calm place. Give that person a call and ask if you can see them in private for a talk. Do not force yourself to talk if you are not in the right mindset for that yet.

Plan the Conversation

This is a very important moment for you to finally open up to someone about something you never have before. You want to make sure that you do not leave anything out. You can either rehearse the conversation in your head or write down what you want to say. Organizing your thoughts will make sure that you say everything that needs to be said. 

Be in Control of What You Say

Just because you are speaking to someone about your depression does not mean you have to tell them everything. You are the one in control of the conversation. You decide how much or how little you want to talk about your depression. If that person asks you to elaborate more on something you are not ready to talk about, just say "I am not ready to talk about this just yet." 

Let That Person Know How You Want Help

Once you confide in your loved ones, they may be confused about how to help you. All you have to do is tell them how you want to be helped. It could be that you want them to join you in your therapy sessions or to just be there for you. Maybe you need them to stop you from committing any reckless behaviors.

If you are still struggling to speak to someone about your depression, talk to a therapist. Reach out to me today to schedule your first appointment.