OPEN DISCUSSION- Hiding Your Depression, and Why It's So Frustrating
Hey Guys! I've been through Depression before, and for me one of the most frustrating aspects of Depression was the fact that my depression was so easy to hide. I was as bubbly as ever around my family and friends, and the depressed person underneath that facade seemed untraceable in public settings. I couldn't cry for help- all my cries were muted by fake laughs and dismissed with small talk. As a result, I felt alone in hiding my depression until I joined this site as a Member and realised that i wasn't alone- I was far from alone. I thought I'd make this thread to discuss the tiny frustrations that come with hiding your Depression from other people. Feel free to share whatever your thoughts may be on this, ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGEMENT 
As Always, I'm Just A PM Away 
I think hiding your depression is frustrating because you know it's delaying the inevitable. You know at one point you're going to reach a point where it's all going to come out, and the people that see it are going to be confused. On top of that, since a lot of people don't really understand it or mix true depression with attention seeking, they'll won't be the most helpful. They will either be so baffled that they won't know what to do, will treat it like its just sadness, or they mix you into the attention seeking group and tell you to stop being a baby. I think that's also why we hide it is to not cause this problem for someone. There's only one person that knows I have depression, and most of the time, she doesn't know what to do when I have a bad day with it. I can tell she gets really confused, and she doesn't think that she's doing the right thing. It almost becomes a cycle where we have to support each other. I need to tell her that just her listening as I vent about something or just telling me to calm down and that i'll get better and things like that are really helping me more than she knows. I think a lot of why we hide it is because of the confusion that most people have with it, but none of us want to be alone with it.
For me, it's frustrating because by hiding my depression, I am not able to get any help. It makes me feel lonely and hopeless.
It is so frustrating bc i feel like no one truly cares about me even im the one who's not sharing but i feel like i only exist when they need something from me, they dont even ask me if im okay or is something troubling me, even my family don't seem to care about my feelings and thoughts. And above all i don't think they would understand me if i tell them i don't think i can handle what they have to say i bet they'll either think im an attention-seeker or just a confused crazy fucked up person
@NewRomantic677 I feel like this thread needs to see the light of day. Lol. So, I'm adding something new to it even though I haven't been to 7cot in a while.
First off, it's been sad finding out that Celaeno is no longer here. I have been gone for over half a year though... Celaeno brought words to feelings I couldn't ever explain and that's helped me a lot in being vocal.
Around the time I joined, I felt very toxic and poisonous to others and I just read an old post (also found in this thread) where I say, I feel less guilty talking about myself to others. I don't feel like a black hole sucking in others in my negativity. It's been such a good experience the one year I was active on 7cot. I still have times when I hide though.
Sometimes, it embarrasses me to admit to other family members, distant family, that I'm suffering from depression. It's tough because they've no clue what it really is. The stigma on mental health illnesses is limited and it's getting harder to explain after doing it so many times. It's supposed to be easier but it's not. So, as a result, hiding it becomes the option.
Neither direction is easy. They both get frustrating and I'm still trying to figure out ways to talk about my problems with other people who have very little to no understanding.
Anyone else out there feel the same?
What are other's experiences?
@bleubellejune thanks for bringing it to the light of day again :p I bet everyone on this thread could relate to the stuff you were saying in your post, and I'm happy we're all able to at least feel a little less alone. I remember the frustration like it was yesterday, but we'll all push through this!
@NewRomantic677 Thank you for sharing this 
@PromotingWellness aww, anytime c: glad you like the thread!
