I think I have depression and I want to tell my parents but my brother recently got diagnosed so I feel like they would think that I'm just trying to get attention. What do I do?

Gentle honesty sounds like a good place to start is explaining that you are struggling with problems yourself and need help. Focus on creating a massive list of options. Ways you can help yourself. Places or people you can go to seek help, take responsibility for his own health and let others be responsible in taking care of themselves and learning skills to eradicate issues. TALKING REDUCES STIGMA Why It’s Not Attention Seeking To Talk About Mental Ill-Health. TALKING RAISES AWARENESS TALKING SAVES LIVES We often hear conflicting messages. On the one-hand, we are encouraged to talk about our problems, but, on the other, if we talk about them too much, or too openly, we’re labelled as an attention-seeker. It’s hard to know what to do for the best, and it can feel easier to keep it all inside. Something that can really help is re-framing. When we reach out for help, we are not attention seeking; we are care seeking, support seeking, or connection seeking. Every single one of us needs care, support, and connection at times, and it makes complete sense for us to ask for these things. It is not attention seeking. Mental ill-health is not something that happens to other people – it happens our family, our friends, our neighbours, and our colleagues. The more we talk about mental-illness, the more we realise how common it really is. In turn, more research and funding is dedicated to it, more resources are created, and more people can be helped.

You could guide your parents into seeing what concerns you, by asking open ended questions, like: How much do you know about Depression running in families ? I think my brother and i both have a lot of 'Low Moods', what do you think? What would you think if i said i believe that i also have Depression? Questions like these can guide others to take a good look at something they might have missed before. At the very least, they might consider having you evaluated by your brother's doctor. This would serve both you and your parents: you would either receive treatment or find another explanation; and your parents could rely upon expert evaluation.

I would still tell them anyway. You are just as important as your brother and deserve to get help as well. I think your parents will be a lot more understanding then you think and depression is a very common thing for people to get. I believe everyone at some point in time gets depression and it takes a lot of courage to ask for help. If you feel uncomfortable talking to your parents, maybe you can write them a letter telling them how you feel and why you think you have depression and ask for there help. I know its scary to talk to parents especially if your worried they wont believe you.

The question you are asking is a valid question. If your brother recently got diagnosed by a professional and you think you might be exhibiting/feeling depressive it would be a good time to tell your parents. To be honest I don’t think that for this type of things there is a “right” time to share or reach out. I’m sure your perception might be completely different from what your parents think or what they will do once you tell them. Trust that they can handle it plus they love, care and want the best for you.

Depression is one of the highest rated health concerns and more people have it than what is known as a lot of people don't want the stigma of "being a depressing person" but if you truly want to make sure your parents believe you, the best thing is to go to a GP and discuss it with them first and get a diagnosis before telling anyone about it. That way, if they question it, you have the facts to back them up. Simply stating that you may have depression is completely different from stating factually that you have it. Most people won't believe you until you have a full diagnosis. You could always try talking to your parents and stating how you feel without out-right telling them that you think you have depression and let them come to their own conclusion. Tell them you don't know what to do and why you feel this way and perhaps they'll be the one to suggest that you may have depression. It's also important to note that depression (like autism) has only been publicly accepted as a medical condition. Back in the old days, it was one of those "get over it, you're just having a bad day" eras. It wasn't as understood as it is now so perhaps your parents would have a difficult time dealing with something that wasn't understood back in their day. Hope this helps.

Depression is never an easy situation to deal with, especially when you have a family member struggling with the same issue. The key to telling your parents lies in choosing your timing wisely. If possible, talk to your brother first about his own experiences with depression, explain how you relate so deeply to them you think you might also be depressed, and then you can ask for his input on how you both can approach your parents and ask for help, together. From your honest and open discussion and brother's help, they'll realize you're not just looking for attention, and perhaps it can even help your brother having someone who understands what he's going through and who he can seek help with, and your parents will most likely look for the best ways to help you both.

Your parents care about you and they won’t think it’s for attention. If your anxious about it you can talk to them and tell them that you have thought you’ve had this before your brother got diagnosed and feel more comfortable telling them now.

Your needs are as important, it's not attention seeking when you have a real illness. Sit with them and tell them the truth about how you are feeling and recognize that they will only know what you confide in them. If they got your brother help certainly they would want to give you help also. Have an honest discussion with your parents and ask them for assistance, whether it be a Therapist or psychiatrist, but feel that they are on your side to do what is best for you.

Talk to your brother, for me its like getting stamped or labelled by doctors and that made me feel isolated, by talking with him you may be able to help each other and overcome it. I hope you do

talk to your brother too, communication is key. By talking you're opening new opportunities and new parts of your relationships with your family. Speak to your parents, for your safety. It will all work out okay :)

Oh, dear. As someone whose sibling also got diagnosed with depression, I can relate. I hid my feelings for a very long time, until I reached a breakdown point. If you think you have depression, it's better not to ignore the symptoms. I suggest you talk to your parents about this. You're not alone, and depression is definitely not for attention. Your mental health and well-being are very important!

Communicate with your parents. Just cause your brother has depression doesn't mean you don't. Share on why you feel you are going through depression. If you feel you can't verbally talk with them, write a letter to them. Good luck!

I'm sure your parents wouldn't think about you, they are here to listen and help you. They would feel better knowing they have supported you when you needed it the most.

You could bring up the subject and specify your worries about their reactions. It may help to tell them beforehand that you are worried about them thinking you are attention seeking.

It’s great that you recognize you need help. Unless you feel like you need to talk to someone immediately, it might be good to wait until your family has accepted the news and then tell them.

It might be best to reach out to your parents if you truly feel that you may have depression. It's important that you take care of yourself first, specially when you suspect you might be having this.

Tell them the truth, fully, including that very concern. Many mental health issues are a product of exposure vs being hereditary so it is not outside the realm of possibility.

First I want to say that it is good that you are thinking, recognizing, and exploring how you feel. It can be overwhelmingly to share with your parents that you feel depressed. Depression runs in families, so it is possible you have depression or are feeling depressed about some of the things happening in your and/or your family's life. Your feelings are valid. When you are ready, talk to your family about how you are feeling. You could also talk to a school counselor, doctor, or other trusted adult about how to discuss this with your parents.

I've actually been in the exact same position with my older sister. Just know that it can be in your genes. Tell them it's a real problem you have and since they understand what your brother is going through, they'll be more kind and accepting.

Tell them, they will understand, especially if your brother is going through it too. Maybe talk with your brother too and ask him how he told them. Ask for help to your friends, maybe they have good suggestions for you.

That is a hard situation to be in. I find it admirable that you are asking the question here, that shows you are putting your family first, even though it may make it harder for you. The answer depends how your parents are coping with your brother being diagnosed, how you feel they would feel if you didn’t tell them. And the answer to that may not be obvious right now for you. Regardless what you decide, to be wondering about whether you may be suffering depression and sharing it here is a good thing, it means you are not ignoring signs, it means you want to do something to get better I had depression for years without my parents knowing, I hid it, because I felt it would have made my dad too sad and my mum would have shrugged and not done anything. I still got somewhere and got better eventually. It doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t tell them, but I am saying, meanwhile, there is support elsewhere, including listeners here at 7cups who can try to explore the issue with you, as well as supporting you generally: the main thing is to find support and not be alone working through this. Don't hesitate to chat with listeners, it you feel it will help you, if you want to find out more about how to get though this.

First and foremost, be honest both with yourself and your parents. Depression isn't easy, and it's uncomfortable. But remember that you need to take care of you.

I would talk to your brother, and maybe you can find some answers with him. You can approach your parents with your brother, and I'm sure they'll understand then. Just remember the important thing is that you get the help you need.

Okay, first of all, its good that you're at least trying to seek help here instead of being scared and keeping quiet, thats really brave of you and I see the intentions of wanting to get better which is important. Since you think it's hard to open up to your parents, I'd suggest an easier way is to go to the school counsellors, they're there to help you and to listen to the things you have no one to talk to. And from there they'll decide if you need regular counselling session with them or is it really severe that they will have to inform your parents so you can immediately seek help, etc. Don't worry about other things, they are designed to help you so feel free to pour out all your problems to them, and they will tell you what to do. Going to school counsellor is what I can think of right now as the easiest way and cost free. Also after all you're just assuming that your parents might think you're just trying to get attention, sometimes maybe they're not what you think they are and things can be solved easily if you talk it out you know! Communication is the key :) either you find the school counsellors or be open with you parents your feelings, just don't DON'T ever keep it to yourself, talk it out, you can do it! Hugs.

i would just try talking to them and explain your concerns with feeling its for attention. And possibly say that his diagnosis made you realize that you have a lot of things in common with his depressive thoughts

You tell them about how you are feeling and also that you were scared telling them because of your brother. Depression can be genetic and the earlier you try to do something about it, finding coping skills etc, the better. Don't be scared telling them, you have to do what's best for you.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with. I think it will help depending on what type of depression you are suffering with. I personally recommend to talk to family, friends, and spiritual advisors to help with your depression. It helps let the people around you know so they can lend a hand as needed. The most important thing about depression though is to find happiness within yourself. It took me a long time to actually figure that out, but when you learn to love yourself depression typically goes away and the people that you are close to will help you find ways to help find good things about yourself to learn how to love yourself.

It's important that you have your mental health taken seriously, and to not censor yourself out of fear of not being taken seriously or of eclipsing someone else. If you think that your parents won't take you seriously, you could ask for help finding a therapist, who could both help communicate with your parents about your possible depression, as well as help you start to address what may be leading to your depression.

I think that either you tell your parents or someone else close to you. You shouldn’t carry those feeling or thoughts alone.

Mental health is a priority that should not be overlooked, if you think you have depression the first thing you should do is consult a professional, maybe your brother's diagnosis has some influence, do not hide your emotional state, do not repress it, consult with your parents in a quite way, they are your family and communication is very important.