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?
Anonymous
on
Oct 3, 2018
...read more
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.
plushLily14
on
Oct 7, 2018
...read more
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.
Anonymous
on
Nov 9, 2018
...read more
You think you have depression. And your brother recently got diagnosed. You want to tell your parents but you feel like they will think you are doing this for their attention. Your parents won't think like anything like that. Go tell them and get help. They are your parents. They live you more than anything. You need to reach out if you need help. They'd be glad you told them before it gets serious. They'll take care. They won't think you're doing this for attention. You are overthinking. I'd you think you need help then you ask for it. Please tell them.
Anonymous
on
Nov 23, 2018
...read more
Even the diagnose of brother itself might cause the depression.
Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression.
If you feel like in all this time you have the symptoms like loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, feeling worthless or guilty, difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions or even having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, you should immediately talk with parents. 1 out of 6 people confront depression so no matter if there is another member of family already diagnosed with this.
Once you talk with parents about this, its just getting better!
SaraHoffman
on
Dec 6, 2018
...read more
You can go to them and say that you are dealing with some of the same symptoms that your bother is facing. In that aspect then it will get there attention as well because they know he is dealing with depression.
Mahnur
on
Dec 26, 2018
...read more
Don't assume the answer just like that, you should know that they are your parents. No other person will love you care for you like they do. They know you better and they will always listen to you they can't ignore you. You just go to them, explain that your in pain and you need them. Don't just rush , be calm and tell one by one what is going on with you. And also tell them that 'i wasn't gonna tell you because you probably gonna think I'm seeking attention but I'm not I need you and I can't handle this alone' . I'm sure if you act patience they will never ignore you.
TheMindRoaming
on
Dec 28, 2018
...read more
Be honest with your parents. Depression is nothing that you should treat as not need to be mentioned just because your parents could think that you just try to get attention. If they still say that you do let a doctor change their minds. If your brother got diagnosed recently then it could run in the family, you never know. Your parents should believe you when you tell them, but of course the risk of them thinking wrong cant be eliminated without having seen a doctor. So i see two options, tell them and hope for the best and if not see a doctor, or see a doctor and then confront them with the diagnose.
BettyCat
on
Mar 8, 2019
...read more
If you really do believe you have depression, the best thing to do would be to just tell them despite your fears. You could tell them that depression is hereditary and maybe him getting diagnosed made you realize what the feelings you're having might be.
I'm sure your parents care about you and don't what you to be upset. Perhaps instead you could ask your brother about his experience talking to your parents about it.
Maybe you could also just tell your family doctor first at a regular check up if you get them.
sweetSeal83
on
Apr 26, 2019
...read more
Never push away thoughts of seeking help for fear of being labelled as an attention seeker. I lived that way for 18 excruciatingly disorienting years of my life, and when I finally sought out treatment it was the best decision of my life. If you feel like you need help, sit down with your parents and have a serious conversation about it, don’t just mention it casually. Your mental health is important and you should try not to put it on hold if you do have access to the proper kinds of care and treatment. In the end, if you don’t ask for help, you most likely will not receive it. Ask for help. It makes a huge difference.
ThymeTraveller
on
Jun 6, 2019
...read more
This will depend a lot on your relationship with them and their understanding of depression. But your brother getting diagnosed might not be a bad thing in this scenario. It might mean your parents are more receptive to signs and more understanding of what it means now than they were before, which may in fact make it an easier conversation.
I would suggest to approach it from that angle as well: you’ve probably seen your brother’s signs, or can see them in retrospect now, and that may open ways for you to note how you’ve been feeling and what worries you about it. Talking about it and seeking help is important—and it’s much better for you to open up and see what can be done about it than to keep it bottled up until it goes much further.
Talk to an expert therapist
Therapy is a worthwhile investment in yourself. I know it may be...
Talk to Jennifer NowCommunities