Secret struggles

QI suffer with depression, and I’m on medication. My friends always ask how they can help, and I never know what to say. Truthfully, I hide bad days as I feel like I’ll be judged or seen as weak.

Aimee, Reading

ADealing with long term depression is incredibly challenging. Not wanting to tell people about your vulnerabilities is a defence mechanism that your mind uses to keep you safe. It’s very common to feel like people will judge you if you speak about how you truly feel, but actually you are doing the opposite. You’re not letting the depression consume your judgement or control you. Depression is another form of control, it’s controlling how you feel and how you act around people.

By speaking openly about it with close friends who you trust, you won’t feel so alone.

Seeking additional help from a professional can help you through the root cause of the depression and also offer the support needed in not making you feel you have to battle with depression on your own.

You deserve to be happy.

Allow yourself to be!