What to do if your parents don’t believe you have depression.You can feel something is not right. You think “I’m depressed” and you may be right and have something along the lines of depression, but what if other people try to minimize that. Nearly one out of ten people may have had a depressive episode. Depression is characterized by withdrawal, reduced activity, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, loss of pleasure, and thoughts of suicide.
The person may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating as well. All these symptoms can make it hard to succeed at school or work or maintain healthy relationships. But what to do if your parents don’t believe you have depression. For people living with depression, talking to their family about what they’re feeling can be difficult, but it’s necessary to keep the issue open. Do you think to yourself about how to talk about depression? What if my parents don’t care about my feelings and about what all is going on in my life? Hey, you never know maybe they are always thinking about you and family.
Table of Contents
How to tell family your parents about your depression?
There are many feelings of anxiety and dread when you think you may have depression. You are not really sure how to feel about it. It is this ongoing feeling you have that sometimes they say something and it makes you feel what if my parents make me depressed. You are thinking if you tell them how you feel and then what if they think you’re crazy and ask you if you are done talking?
You are afraid of getting stigmatized. But what to do if your parents don’t believe you have depression? And how do you cope when your parents just won’t listen? You need to tell them about how you feel because without trying to make them understand your feelings you won’t know for sure if they will help you or reject your feelings as nothing. Worst case worst they may tell you that you are just pretending to be depressed to gain their attention.
When you first open up with the depression talk, they may ask you to describe how your symptoms make you feel. This is a great opportunity for you to talk about your family’s history of depression, may be someone in your family had depression before, maybe you have a depressed mom and you never knew about it hopefully they’ll understand. If your parents understood your predicament they will be sympathetic, supportive, and talk right with you.
I once heard on a television show that being understood is an underrated pleasure and I couldn’t agree more. What if your parents understood what you are going through, you won’t feel so alone and there will be your family on your side to help you out? If your parents still refuse to accept your condition, you need to talk to a doctor or a therapist by yourself to help you and prescribe you the medications you need to take. You can always take the help of your older siblings or close friends for this meeting with the psychiatrist. The ones you can trust because they may be more broadminded to understand depression.
My family doesn’t believe in depression
Most parents would take you seriously when you discuss with them how you are not doing ok but talking about mental health is still taboo in certain parts of the world. Many parents are raised in a certain way that makes mental illness a weakness in their eyes. It hurts their fragile ego that their child is having mental issues.
How to help your parents understand depression ?
Depression is a difficult and critical issue for many people with depression because parents usually have the hardest time accepting and understanding depression. Here are three important things to consider when you are having a difficult discussion with your parents about depression:
1. You are never too old for support. Everyone deserves help if they are struggling with a mental illness.
2. It is normal to want to tell someone you trust when you are suffering, and below, our experts offer some tips for talking to your parents about your depression. If it’s been a while since you spoke to them, consider texting your parents to see if they’re busy, and will give you a moment to catch up.
1. First step to tell others about your state of mind is to first find for yourself the symptoms of depression.
– Are you struggling at school or work?
– Disengaged with classroom or office activities
– Are you avoiding your friends and family because you don’t feel like meeting and hanging out like you used to?
– Do you feel like crying most of the time?
– Have you trouble remembering things?
– Do you sleep a lot and sometimes you have trouble sleeping at all?
– Do you turn to alcohol or drugs to numb the feeling of emptiness eating you up inside?
2. Prepare yourself first that it’s going to be tough on you and your parents having this conversation.
3. Make them comfortably seated and bring it up only when you have their full attention and not when they are distracted by your siblings or other work-related issues.
4. Explain in detail how you feel. How you don’t feel like working or attending classes anymore and feel tired all the time and sometimes don’t even want to leave your bed.
5. Ask for their help
This is very important that you ask for help. It will do no one any good if you keep bottling everything your feelings, sadness inside you. If they tell you that everyone feels low sometimes then tell them it is more serious than that. Even then if it doesn’t work, talk to your siblings or close friends. Discuss it, trust me it helps to let everything that is eating you inside,out in open.
Who knows after hearing you out your parents might start their own research on depression. Finding all about
How to talk to someone with depression?
What to tell someone who is depressed?
How can depression be managed?
Depression can also push us toward a change in life. With the right medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes, and support, depression can be treated. If your parents tend to be stubborn, it could be a sign they don’t want to listen. Reach out to a therapist who can help you and get you a diagnosis that is right for you. For more medication information, talk to your medical provider.
-Get regular exercise and eat healthily.
-Early identification and intervention are key to fighting depression, but just as important it is to manage it, you should also know how the disorder affects family relationships.
Conclusion about What to do if your parents don’t believe you have depression.
Depression is a serious illness that requires immediate medical intervention, so if you or someone you know needs help please reach out to them and get the required psychiatric help. There is nothing to be ashamed about if someone has depression or any other mental illness like your body-mind also requires healing. Many people live with depression and manage it successfully for many years. People with mental illness may also develop chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Also read My girlfriend is depressed and pushing me away
Disclaimer
The content of this article “what to do if your parents don’t believe you have depression” has been developed by third-party medical content writers and/or experts. The information mentioned in the article is only for educational purposes and therefore it is requested to immediately consult a doctor/ physician before diagnosing and deciding the treatment plan.
Dr Amit Sharma is a Doctor and writer with a particular interest in mental health. He helps individuals by combining practical advice with emotional support.