Why??

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2003
Why??
2
Fri, 05-07-2004 - 7:55pm
why is it that when you tell some friends that you have depression that of course they seem sympathetic and say they want to help...or sometimes they say "get better"...but then after they don't want to be your friend? or they say that everything is the same, but you know they are acting strange around you. i mean close friends...not necessarily people you have known for years, but well enough to establish a close bond. what are the stereotypes for people with mental illness, particularly depressed people? how to non- depressed people view us? How can we explain to the flip side of the coin that they can't catch our disease like a cold?? how does 1 get rid of the stereotypes!?!

nighty night

Meg

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2004
In reply to: finland11
Fri, 05-07-2004 - 8:09pm
I don't know why friends abandon people like us, long term friends or new ones. It does make it hard when you don't have the close contact with people but at least online we can comfort each other as best we can.

Congratulations on your family and your success as a mom. I know not too many people can say they've done what you have. I love what you put in your profile about your daughter standing up for you! What a sweetie!

I don't think people think we are contagious, but hearing anyone talk about how sad they are all the time makes people sad that they can't help; so maybe it feels like to them that THEY are becoming depressed just like us. I don't know how to fix any stereotype except through education, and so many people would just rather not bother and keep their mind set the way it is. Change is hard for all of us, regardless of the issue or topic.

HUGS

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
In reply to: finland11
Sat, 05-08-2004 - 8:02am

Hi Meg and welcome to the board!


I think you have hit the nail on the head about How do you get rid of the sterotype of mental illness?

*hugs