Do friends/family know that you suffer from anxiety or depression?

[Tobenot4]

I developed awful anxiety after a bad breakup a couple of years ago. I'm over the breakup now but I can't shake the anxiety and often feel down in myself, a feeling of I just can't be bothered about a lot of things.

Now, friends and family would know I went through a hard time at the time, but no one really knows I'm not feeling great at times with this anxiety.

Anyone else in a similar situation - do you share how you're feeling or keep it to yourself like me?

Hiya ... I know quite a lot of people who could have written your post... they've been successfully helped with meds... So many seem to take something at a low dose round here. Group of girlfriends out recently - think there were 9 of us and 4 were on something.... and were clear about the difference it made....worth exploring? It can just give that needed boost.

I have anxiety, stress and cannot sleep and I've had enough. I haven't told anyone and I don't know who would really care (that sounds sorry for myself it's possibly a bad way of wording that I don't see the point).

I thought HRT would help with both, as am in peri, but it's only helped with hot flushes. I wonder if it's worth mentioning to my GP.

I kept it quiet for years. However now that I am very senior in my profession, i made a conscious decision to talk about it at work in front of juniors, in the hope it would destigmatise it for them if they needed support.

I think more people should talk about it

No one knows. I have horrific PTSD, depression, anxiety and frankly loathe myself. I understand why I am like this, medication cannot heal the things I have been through. Talking therapy made me feel worse. EMDR helped a little with flashbacks but not with the feelings of self hatred, fear and depression.

I can't actually remember the last time I felt happy or even anything vaguely resembling it BUT I paint on a brave face, do all the things I need to do each day, appear upbeat and smiley at work. I've stopped socialising entirely though - I just don't have enough energy to keep the facade up for that any more.

I don't tell anyone. They wouldn't understand and I'm actually embarrassed and ashamed of all the awful things that have happened to me in my life. I don't like to make other people feel uncomfortable and I don't like to show weakness.

Yes
I had a break down in 2018. I didn't tell anyone I was struggling until it was too late.

Now I talk about my mental health and I ask for help if I need it

No, just my husband. People would have no idea, I am very good at hiding it and won't talk to anyone about it while I am in it but am very happy to talk to people outside my family about it when I am well. My family absolutely not. They are of the 'pull yourself together, we managed' sort of way of thinking. No clue.

Close friends do, but not to the extent of how bad it is, My family no, only my dh.

I class myself as having high functioning anxiety. My work colleagues would be shocked and so would my mates. But I take tablets and have managed it for the last 15 years. I started getting panic attacks after my dd was born. Looking back I think I've always been a highly anxious person. Just didn't realise it, I thought it was normal to get severe butterflies, so much so I'd spend the day on and off the loo before going on a training course, or suddenly feeling breathless at the thought of going food shopping.

In my own experience I find that people, acquaintances even, do talk about anxiety or stress more than they used to. I just don't feel able to or see the point in sharing, personally.

That's such a brave thing to do, @SunRainStorm , thank you for doing this. 💐