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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Depression can be a difficult subject to discuss. With so much stigma and misunderstanding out there, finding the right words to say and the right people to say them to may be more challenging than you originally thought. Ideally, you’ll find love and support amongst those you decide to share with. For when you’ve got that pervasive feeling of needing someone to talk to, here are five options to choose from or combine in any way you think is best.
1. Your Family
Your immediate family should definitely be on your list of people to talk to about your depression. They’ll (hopefully) be able to provide a solid support base for you, empathizing and understanding that your condition is real and affects your everyday life.
If you decide to tell family members, but you’re unsure whether they know about depression or its symptoms, you can bring information on the mental health condition when you decide to talk to them. This can serve a twofold purpose; it can help your family better understand your illness, and it can also help bridge the gap between disbelief and acceptance.
Providing solid, fact-driven information on the disorder will help your family understand the true weight of the issue, and that it’s not simply something that can be brushed off or cured in a day. It’s possible you’ll experience disbelief or even anger from parents or other family members, as they won’t understand what the illness is or what it means. If this happens, provide them with information on the illness and explain to them how it affects your everyday life.
2. Close Friends
If you don’t want to talk to your family about your mental health, a close friend can be the next best thing. After all, our best friends are pretty much family anyway, right? Telling close friends about your condition and keeping a conversation going about it into the future will help them understand you; and also understand why you act a certain way when symptoms arise.
This is actually very important to maintaining these relationships, as depression can often cause negative or withdrawn behavior. Someone with little to no understanding of the effects of depression might take this behavior personally and it can cause conflict, further adding to your stress levels.
Keep your close friends informed. Let them know how you’re doing, and don’t be discouraged if at first they simply don’t understand. Something as impactful as depression can take some time to accept and understand, and it’s ok for them to ask questions or seek further information on your condition.
3. A Counselor or Licensed Therapist
Whether it’s a school or campus counselor, or a licensed therapist, talking to someone with an understanding of your illness can open doors you didn’t even know existed. The wealth of information and insight that counselors and therapists can offer will likely prove to be incredibly beneficial to you. You shouldn’t have to navigate your illness alone, and with the help of professionals, you’ll be able to better understand the underlying causes of your depression and address them appropriately.
Licensed psychiatrists also have the ability to prescribe medication where needed. Sometimes you’ll need some extra help in the form of medication to minimize the symptoms of your depression or stabilize your moods. In conjunction with therapy, this method can help you get your depression under control and reduce its impact on your day-to-day life.
You may also find alternative options to medication, such as CBD oil. Understanding facts about CBD oil before using it as a medicinal tool is essential; so do your research and consult with your doctors beforehand.
4. Coaches or Teachers
Coaches and teachers are another viable option for discussing your depression, especially if your performance in sports or school has been slipping recently. Your teachers and coaches will want to understand what’s affecting you and how they can help, so it’s a good idea to keep them informed so they understand why you’re slacking off.
Approaching a teacher or coach may seem intimidating, but the fact is, these people do care for their students and athletes. They are in the position they’re in to help out kids, teends, and young adults, so don’t be afraid to ask. You might just find that they have a deeper understanding than you thought due to personal or second-hand experience with depression.
5. Your Boss
You might be thinking “Why on Earth would I talk to my boss about my depression?” and we get it. Your boss is probably the last person you’d think to go to with your mental health condition, but it’s actually important that you do so; especially when it’s negatively impacting your work.
Your boss will want to know why you’re not meeting deadlines or your attendance has gotten worse over the last few months. It’s important to keep even your boss updated on your mental health, and if you’re suffering from depression, keeping him or her informed is probably the best way to avoid disciplinary action or termination.
Conclusion
The bottom line is this: if the people in your life don’t know what’s going on with you, they can’t be expected to understand the behavior that comes with depression. They may think you’re avoiding them, or purposely slacking off, etc. It’s important to keep your loved ones or coaches/teachers/supervisors informed of your condition so they know what to expect and when to reach out to help. You don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed that you have a mental health condition; this is something that affects millions of people globally every year, and is nothing to be ashamed of!