My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Mental health

why is depresion such a taboo...

58 replies

pud1 · 28/01/2013 11:58

i know this will have been done a thousand times but i just wanted to get the general feeling on why people just dont talk about mh.

i am a very open person ( probably too much) and i have just been put on fluxotene ( dont know the spelling) for mild depression. it has been a wonder. i feel so much better and it has started a snowball of things getting better in my life, i am not as stressed with the dcs so they are calmer, my relationship has improved beyond measure and i am actually known to crack a smile now. since i have been on them i have talked to friends and family about it and have been amazed by the amount of people who are either on them or have been feeling as low as i was. we would not be embarrassed about telling people we take anti-biotics for a physical illness so why not talk about ads in rl.

as i said sorry if this has been done before.

OP posts:
Report
Crawling · 28/01/2013 12:02

I suffer pychosis so I dont tell anyone as generally people get scared Ive spoken to lots of people who take anti ds but never had a person say they take anti pyschs people are just to scared to because some people would act with hatred and disdain and when you are unwell you cant really deal with negative opinions.

Report
JustAHolyFool · 28/01/2013 12:04

Because a physical illness doesn't cause your personality to change in any way.

We live in a society that emphasises confidence, cheerfulness...even if you are feeling like shit, the stock answer to "how are you?" is "fine". Any deviation from that marks you out as a bit of an oddball.

Look at how people react to people like Andy Murray - not saying he has depression, but he's a bit dour so people hate him. They only like cheery happy people.

Depression is different to a physical illness.

Report
amillionyears · 28/01/2013 19:54

I think, at work it is taboo, because a person does not know how an employer, or worse, a future employer will take it, and doesnt want to appear weak or that they may need to take time off work in the future.

A person can be afraid to tell friends and family because they sometimes feel ashamed, and dont want to come across as weak.

Also, the very nature of depression means that often,self confidence is lost, or lessened.

Report
Unfortunatlyanxious · 28/01/2013 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 28/01/2013 23:11

I'm feeling quite depressed recently and I can't bring myself to talk to anyone about it, couldn't even bring myself to start a thread about it because my confidence is low, I feel upset and tired of feeling this way. I don't want to bore or burden friends and family with it. And I think they don't want to hear it, as we've all got problems and mine probably aren't that big, so you think they'll think you're melodramatic, miserable, attention seeking or whatever.

To be fair I think there's a huge percentage of the population on antidepressants at any one time. But hardly anyone talks about it so you think they're all ok.

I think a lot of mine is probably partially due to hormones as I'm 11+3 weeks pregnant, but I'm prone to depression, not on meds because of ttc the baby, and to be honest I could probably do with being on some to help me cope day to day. I feel like a shit boring mum right now and I can't tell anyone because they always try to "fix" things by being really helpful and capable, which just makes me feel more like a useless sad loser, if that makes sense. Sad

Report
pud1 · 29/01/2013 10:12

James - this is how i felt. not able to talk about it. i also did not have any massive problems that would be a cause. i am probably going to be no help as i dont know if you can medicate whist pg but have you spoken to your doctor or mw about it.

OP posts:
Report
MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 10:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 10:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WowOoo · 29/01/2013 10:33

I suppose because it's in the mind no one can see what it's like.

And some people like me only have experience of mild depression - I'm not even sure if I was depressed. I think it was just a lot of bad circumstances that would make anyone feel down.

A broken leg or flu is visible. You can only deny or exaggerate symptoms to a certain extent. We know more about treatment and what will happen - your leg will heal and your flu will get better.

I was totally shocked when a friend told me she'd been on ADs. So, you're right.
She didn't want to tell anyone but her Dh.
I suppose she must have felt it was private and maybe she felt ashamed or weak. She's better now.
I'm glad you are feeling better Smile

Report
springbanana · 29/01/2013 10:38

But why you have to tell people? I don't people happily are sharing the info that they have hemorroids. In my opinion mental problems are in the same category. You can share the information with people who you think will be helpful or understanding, but why tell the rest?

If someone I barele know tells me thay have some mh problem and take meds, I answer "oh, good that you take meds and you are on the mend". Then I will change subject. I have mh problems too, but I am not sharing them with people. For me internet, close friends,doctors and DP are enough. These are the people I would share my hemorroids as well :D. well if really necessary...

I don't really have anyhing against mh people but I just prefer healthy people. I really admire people who have never had any mh problems. They are rare and really deserve to be wordshipped.

Report
springbanana · 29/01/2013 10:53

just had a thught why i think as i think. I am afraid that they are as messed up as I and think as I do. I do not want to mix people like me. If the person is healthy this is minimised.

Report
Unfortunatlyanxious · 29/01/2013 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 15:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

springbanana · 29/01/2013 15:55

I don't ask. You may mention to me if you wish, but do not expect me to talk more. This, actually, could be one reason why some people do not want to talk about mh. It might be too close to them.

Report
springbanana · 29/01/2013 15:57

in real life, i mean.

hoho.

Report
JustAHolyFool · 29/01/2013 15:58

I think there IS a lot of shame though, MrsWolowitzerables . At the end of the day, you are essentially outside the norm. In most societies, that is a source of shame.

I'm not saying it should be like that. But for me, I feel ashamed that I can't behave like others.

Report
MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JustAHolyFool · 29/01/2013 16:19

But people saying "you shouldn't feel ashamed" just makes it worse, to be honest.

I DO feel ashamed. Saying I shouldn't doesn't make that go away.

Report
springbanana · 29/01/2013 16:24

I was ashamed when I had hemorroids and I did not want to share with my workmates. I think the people who are unaffected are the future.

Report
MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 16:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JustAHolyFool · 29/01/2013 17:00

Well I feel totally differently. I AM defective. I have a personality disorder, which means there is just something wrong with ME.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

springbanana · 29/01/2013 17:04

I share you a secret. The amount of affected will just increase and the healthy was will start to struggle to take care of us all. The difficult decision will be made. All the affected ones are to be sent away.

Report
MrsWolowitzerables · 29/01/2013 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JustAHolyFool · 29/01/2013 17:08

OK, but all this "should" and "shouldn't" is not really helpful. People can't help how they feel and I'm a bit sick of my illness being politicised.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.