If you were in denial about the fact you had depression ...

[artemisandaphrodite]

... what words from a loved one could convince you that you had, and that you desperately needed to seek help? I need to write to my DM to try and persuade her to see a GP - various bits of back stories on other threads if anyone has the inclination to search, I'm afraid I don't have time to do all the linkys just now - hopefully later. But my DM has taken an extreme, pathological, out-of-character overreaction to a minor difference of opinion we had in October. She won't talk to me face to face or over the phone - all communication is by text only. I've found this to be totally inadequate and am writing her a letter to try and say all the things I want to say, but I would be so grateful if anyone with any insight had any pointers they could give?

I recognised the typical depression myself but it took years of convincing that my other symptoms were depression as well. I had to understand it by myself before I could accept it. For me the turning point was to read parts of a book about depression.

Another example is my DM. She changed. Strange calls to people and accusing people of various things. She did not admit there was nothing wrong with her. My DS finally got her sectioned. I am not sure what the diagnosis was, because DM never told me about it. Nowadays she is fine.

Sorry I don't have the answer but I just wrote about my experiences of denial.

Thank you, Swan. I don't want it to get to the stage your DM got to - mine never talks about her problems either, just brushes everything under the carpet. Growing up, nobody ever told me why she stayed in her room for weeks and weeks at a time.

Anyone else ...?

My exDP was obviously depressed and behaving with typical symptoms. I gently sent him some information on it, and also a link to an online test for it. He ignored it for weeks but it planted the seed and he slowly came to his own realisation and is now getting treatment. Depressed people don't seem to like being pushed...so you have to work very gently x