I've used MN as a sounding board the past year, I had ten bereavements in 2019, including my NC mum to alcoholism and one of my best friends to suicide aged 35 just after Christmas.
Anyway, I had a breakdown in December, I'm currently signed off work, having counselling and on all sorts of tablets.
Dr said to not lie in bed all day, but drag myself out to see friends and do hobbies.
As I'm usually sociable and life and soul. Friends started bombarding me with messages when I stopped going out in December and came off FB, thinking I'd fallen out with them.
In the end I told all my friends I'm signed off with depression, please don't take it personally if I don't want to message, or have nights out, but on Dr's orders to meet up with friends in a more sedate setting.
Well, it's opened a flood gate. In the past two weeks I've had quite a few friends contact me to say that they are going through the same / similar. Which I'd never have realised.
I've had coffee, lunch, wine with ten of these friends so far. Some school friends I've not seen since school for 25 years, close colleagues I have worked with, but not seen for five etc.
Cut a long story short, I've inadvertently developed a depression sufferer's network! I'm meeting up with these friends, some are mutual as well nd we've all oddly come together to catch up. It's been so uplifting.
I'm starting a mindfulness course week after next with one friend who wanted to go, but needed someone else to join them to ensure they go.
Sme of these mates have announced what a tonic it is to talk, and started seeking out friends in their own circle to catch up with too.
Don't get me wrong, I make these plans, then on the day itself, I can't face going out, but I force myself. Turns out the other person was feeling the same. We get each other.
This isn't a stealth boast by the way, I'm just amazed by how this has grown in a couple of weeks and how talking to each has helped so much. It's removed the stigma too
I just hope this idea helps someone here. Talking does help.