r u honest with friends and other people about depression/counselling and being on anti d's?

Question

i have started anti d's after finally seeking help for years of torment of depression/anxiety, being lost in an unreal world.

should i be open with people about it or will people judge you?

have u peeps out there in this position? told only a select few people? or tell everyone or no one?

cause when i meet with friends in the future i wont be drinking if i on meds (they think it will be bit strange) cause i wa a heavy boozer in the past, 4 obvious reasons! should i be upfront or jus say i on a health and fitness mission from now on and decided to give up the grog cause i know it bad for ya

please advise/share ya experiences?

Answer 1

It depends how good a friend your friends are.
I never used to tell anyone about my situation, but one day a colleague offered me a lift when I was waiting for a bus to the therapy unit, and obviously I had to tell her where I was going. She was totally supportive as her mum had had depression, and she was glad I was getting help.
On the other hand I told a guy I was seeing and he said 'i dont care' and walked off.
Try and sound them out in general conversation if you dont feel confident enough to trust them, it may give you a hint as to how they may react.
But on the good side, there is so much on tv etc about depression, stress and so on these days that people seem to accept it as normal for someone to suffer it. Its not got the same stigma as it used to have at one time.

Answer 2

First of all well done for seeking help. Depression is an illness and like any other illness it will only get better with treatment. I had to take a year off work through clinical depression that I had suffered from for about 15 years without getting help. My friends and family would say I was fine if I voiced concerns about my mental state. Eventually I got fed up of trying to "pull myself together" and "just getting on with it" and sought help from my GP, who was great. A year of being on Citalopram and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy later and I felt ready to go back to work. I must admit that while my friends were initially surprised when I told them, they have all been very supportive - but how to explain my year out to future employers? I lied and told them I was recuperating from a car accident. There is still a stigma surrounding mental health issues - be choosy who you tell.

Best wishes for a depression-free future. It is possible.

D.
X

Answer 3

i was just the same it took me years to admit that i had something wrong with me i use to drink heavy to but i went to the doctors in the end and coming off the booze was the best thing i did i went though hell at first but when i found the right tabs i settled down in a more normal life and behavior i was very strange at the best of times people used to think i was taking drugs or something
but i always say that im on meds im not ashamed of it i dont really care what other folks think and if anyone asked if they should seek help with depression the answer is go for it man .
dont be ashamed of what you going through it takes alot to admit youve got the problem
i wish you all the best .

Answer 4

True friends will be glad you've obtained the help you needed.
Non-friends, have no business inquiring why you do anything. But if you want, it is perfectly acceptable to tell acquaintances that you are declining alcohol for your health's sake. Then just change the subject.
Having mental health issues is nothing to be ashamed of. There is no difference between depression and a broken leg, other than the treatment required. Hold your head high, and be proud of yourself for getting the treatment you need.

Answer 5

am not sure if this will help, but i was forced onto anti-depressants, after the sudden death of my best friend, he suffered from a heart disorder and he went to Germany for an operation, which didnt go well.

i went to a counsoler for a year through my local GP, i told my close friends and family how i felt and what i was going through, there was a mixed reaction which made me worse.

The big problem i had was, i tried many different anti-depressants but had all the side affects possible with them, but never felt any better, then i decided to try and get myself better.

My friend died in may 2005, and am still not over the whole thing

Answer 6

I'm in the same boat, I'm about to start a course of Fluoxetine for my anxiety and panic attacks. The symptoms of this have been affecting my life, I've been avoiding situations that I am fearful of attacks happening in.

The strange this is that the first friend I told turned round and said she was on AD's too. Tell people you feel you have to but dont go telling everyone because you feel you have too.

Wishing you success in overcoming your problems.

Answer 7

I tell people. Most understand and even feel better about telling you about their own possible histories with depression. Those who don't understand, really should learn to.

Basing a friendship on honesty versus basing an acquaintance on pretense... No contest.

Besides, it helps to talk about it, but it helps a lot more to know that people around you are aware of what you're going through, that you don't have to keep up appearances when you don't feel strong enough to, and that they're still there for you even though they know.

Answer 8

If it's going to make YOU feel strange on how people react to you , knowing your having a hard time mentally, tell them the fitness story. Remember you can't control what other think or feel. So by telling them your having mental issues you could be leaving the book wide open for them to think whatever they want, let alone pass on to other what they want. I personally am much more private about my life. I could see me telling them some very important meaningful private stuff about myself, them really not caring that much honestly, and them still really not getting it, gossiping, and so on. So why would we want to really put ourselves through that bull? Maybe family, where our support should come from anyway and hopefully! Good luck..

Answer 9

It all depends on what you are comfortable with. I know some friends of mine are on antidepressants and that doesn't change the way I look at them at all. I don't think any less of them and I don't treat them differently. It is the same to me as being on antibiotics for the flu or something. I think it would also depend on your friends and what they think of it. Some people might react badly to the situation and others would be totally okay with it. Do what you feel. If you don't feel comfortable with your friends knowing then don't tell them but if you are comfortable with it then go for it. Do what you feel. I personally have had any bad experiences with my friends really, but I have heard of bad experiences my friends have had. So it all really depends on you and on the person you are telling about it.

Answer 10

depends on the friends cos i have some friends that have been there from the start and yes i do tell them that im going for counselling but in others no i dont as for meds i tell people who need to know