Why does nobody believe I'm depressed?

No one believed I was depressed because I would put up a front. I would smile and laugh, but when I was alone I would be crying and feeling lonely. Not even my parents or my doctors or my therapists believed I was depressed I wouldn't tell them everything and I would seem happy in front of them.

Most of the time, people don't understand depression until they themselves have been through it. Anyone that doesn't believe you're depressed likely doesn't know what depression is or what it's like.

In my experience, my parents just didn't want to believe I was depressed. I guess because they didn't want their daughter to go through the same things they went through, and they fooled themselves into thinking it was mind over matter. Also, most of us depressed people put on a pretty good facade to seem happy and "normal" at school or work, so when people who don't understand depression hear that we have it, they're likely to just brush it off. Which is dangerous for obvious reasons.

Because too many people believe that it is for attention. Many people don't "act" depressed for attention, If you tell somebody that you are depressed, they don't have the right to say that you aren't. Unless they've blatantly shown that they are just pretending. You are the expert on you, nobody can dictate what you are feeling.

Mental illness is not visible like broken bones so people find it hard to understand that there is something wrong with you as they are not experiencing it themselves.

Because somehow I am not depressed enough to be depressed. Like this is some kind of battle. "Did you stay in bed for months? That's what my aunt did. Stop complaining." Its as if the fact that I could be more sad trumps the fact that I am sad right now.

Some people believe depression is a myth, or a life choice. You cannot convince people that you are depressed if they do not believe in it. It's not your fault, just some people have their own facts, even if you know yours to be true.

Depression is something very personal, you can feel terrible with it but still look completely fine to everyone else. Sometimes what we feel is hard to explain to others as everyone feels things differently.

because "depression is a very serious disease and I'm just victimizing myself" they say... "Poor, poor pitiful you"

People think that everyone who says they're depressed are either looking for attention or they blow it off and say it's a phase. I applaud you for trying your best to get through it, but I think you would do well to ignore those who think you're lying.

Depression can be hard to accept for the people that love you. If you believe/know you are depressed, you should take the steps you want to, to get the help you deserve. :-)

Depression can take various forms, and sometimes people are too busy to notice, or you might not be displaying what they consider to be conventional symptoms of depression. Its important to remember depression can hit anyone, and can come in lots of different varieties. Some times people are turned off by the term "depression" maybe try bringing up some of the symptoms like "Im having a hard time finding motivation" or "I just cant get myself out of bed anymore".

I know exactly how that feels..Initially you feel why cannot they understand that I am depressed?But then I realized that whats important is that I believe in it and try to help myself.Right now whats important for you is that you are there for yourself.People generally don't understand depression as a major problem..When I asked a person why don't they believe me..they replied..You seem happy to me and I thought asking you about it would make you more depressed.Well..I think I am depressed..let the rest of the world say what they want to.My Belief in MYSELF is enough

Because a lot of people expect you to look sad or be crying all the time. Or they expect bouts of manic energy and un-moving slovenliness. When you're functional and non-medicated, it's hard for people to believe that you are depressed.

Because unfortunately most people don't understand. They see you're feeling depressed, but they don't ask why.

It's hard for people who don't struggle with depression to understand what people who do struggle go through. It's one of the reasons I ended a relationship with someone who couldn't understand. (This is a different story, though, as he intentionally wouldn't allow himself to understand.) I urge you to continue sharing your experience with others, both those who believe you (so you can connect and realize you're not alone) and those who don't (to help them understand).

A person who is depressed may not appear to be depressed on the surface. It's usually an underlying problem that's hidden extremely well by the depressed individual.

This is the most frustrating thing ever...People don’t understand when you explain what’s wrong and you don’t even know where to begin explaining why you’re sad because deep inside you don’t even have a concrete answer, you JUST feel the way you do. It’s like someone in your head fighting you everyday...it’s something so bad that it’s hard to believe anyone actually feels this way:( -from experience

I think it's hard for people to believe that someone around them may need help. Parents find it hard to believe that their kid may need help that they can't give.

Many people think that people who are depressed are just doing it for attention or don't really mean what they say.

Sometimes, though who do not know of depression do not know when to spot it and what the symptoms are. If you are having these symptoms and it is affecting your life in negative ways I would try to educate those who do not believe. The best of luck to you!

it's a form of denial, wanting to believe that things are actually okay and that you don't know what you're talking about.

because we all show it differently, just cause you carry on doing things & not taking tablets does not make you alright, i have been depressed for roughly 5 years, its only now iam on tablets that people start to realise, you dont have to stay in bed & not wash to be depressed ,

because a lot of people think teenager are dramatic and over reactive and that its just a faze that we are going through

People who don't believe you're depressed are often people who haven't experienced depression themselves, When I was depressed it was hard to convince people of it, try and get professional help, or find a friend/family member that believes you, getting people to believe you one by one will eventually cause a domino effect.

What I've learned is that people have similar thoughts to those who are depressed. However, these thoughts or symptoms aren't as strong or intense as those with people who have depression. When people don't believe you're depressed, it may be due to the fact that they've experienced what you're experiencing, but the only difference is that they don't experience their thoughts as intensely as you do.

Depression can be a hard thing for people who haven't experienced it themselves to understand. I know it's really hard not to get frustrated or feel worse because of it, but there are ways to try to connect to them that might help. Even just posting something like Hyperbole and a Half's comic on depression (http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html) on social media might be a good first step. For me, pointing family and friends to third-parties that have explanations about what depression is, what its symptoms can have and ways of coping was really helpful. When I was at the bottom of that well, it was really hard for me to try to understand how I was coming off to them, or why what I was telling them might not have been effectively getting the point across. Talking through your situation - with a person who does understand, or a listener here on 7cups, or a therapist/counselor - can also be helpful in figuring out how to approach the situation.

People think a lot abour themselves and sometimes they don't understand that you have this huge sadness inside of you.

Depression can be a hard thing to understand for those who have never experienced it firsthand. Don't take it the wrong way.

Different people act in different ways when depressed ,everyone deals with depression in their own way, Has someone said face to face that they do not believe you are depressed?Is that what you think to yourself ?Have you spoken to a healthcare professional,friend,family about the way you are feeling?