How can I make my friends and family understand that my depression is a serious issue, not just me being dramatic?

You can talk to them them to show your feelings and not hide.They are going to enteder are people you most want in life , trust them

I call it a sort of reversed intervention, when you get them together (or individually) and try to explain that depression is a serious thing. In order to make them understand, come with arguments, send them well researched links for them to read and, most importantly, tell them exactly how you feel, tell them the steps you are taking towards your recovery and tell them how they can help you with the process - that you'd be grateful if they gave you their support and understanding. People often refuse to take things seriously when they do not understand them.

When trying to talk with your family, go sit somewhere together at a nice quiet place. Make sure they won't get distracted. Tell them your serious and that you need help and someone to trust.

Encourage them to seek support, perhaps from a family members support group. NAMI offers family groups, as do other mental health organizations. Education and support is the best way to fight the stigma and discourage ignorance on their part.

Explain to them that clinical depression is not just a feeling, it is an illness of the mind. It has been proven that the brains of those with depression are different from the brains of those without depression.

Again, talk about it. Tell them how you feel now, why you feel depressive, and how they can help you. First explain it to your family and if they understand you can get help and tell it to your friends.

Sit down with them and have a calm discussion explaining how it is affecting you and that you'd like to seek help.

I would suggest laying out the facts for them about depression. Have them read about it. Maybe they just haven't been shown just how common and severe of an issue it can be.

family and friend are the very important part of our life and they never misunderstood us but if its happing with you then you should talk very seriously with them .May be they are thinking that you are doing drama only because of your past history or may be they knew that your nature is very impulsive. you should talk with them that whatever you are suffering is not a drama and i hope that they will understand the same.

education is the best tool to help anyone understand the severity of any issue. Try educating them on what depression really is and how it effects people daily.