“People make a lot of assumptions”Depression, and other mental health conditions can manifest in different ways, and people make a lot of assumptions about what a depressed person should look like.For example, as somebody who is outgoing, chatty, and confident, I’ve had counsellors say that I “don’t seem depressed” or that I don’t have “a reason” to be depressed.
Depression can be linked to a reason, but this isn’t always the case.Sometimes, people will give me examples of things that I’ve achieved or things that I enjoy as reasons why I shouldn’t be depressed, or suggest that these things mean I “love life” and therefore don’t really want to end it.These kinds of comments can make me feel even more isolated and confused, which puts me off seeking help.
In the past, this has caused me to feel even more erratic, and I’ve even experienced instances of disassociating – as if I’m looking at myself from the outside.Accessing support I’ve been struggling with my mental health since I was 19, and I’m 23 now.
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