The Quality of Frienships (or lack thereof)

Hi there

You know,when my family found out I had depression they were all pretty freaked out. My friends became long distance friends,getting a phone call here and there ect ect.

I really think that people do not know how to deal with someone who has depression if they have not experienced it themselves.
That is not their fault really, I guess we have to understand that..although I know that it is hard.

You need to try to seek some type of therapy outside of your friends. Is there a family member that you trust? What about your school counselor?

Hello,

Shy is right on, people do not understand depression and when I told my friends I had to take early retirement due to depression...........they laughed.  I had hidden it for 24 years from them.  I should get an oscar for my performance.

I just got overwhelmed with hiding it and had a serious meltdown.  My friends moved on and as Shy siad they don't understand and the word depression scares them.  I advocate to educate the public on depression and try to help people to understand we are just human beings like them but instead of a heart condition or Lupus, we have depression.

You do deserve to have friends who understand you and will listen to you. Don't give up and do get to the counselor as soon as it is available to you.

Hugs

Kitt

Hey there, I have been depressed on & off for maybe 9 years now, since I was about 16, and probably a little bit since I was a child, for years and years I kept it to myself, I have never told my family or my friends how I feel - in a way this stopped it from being real! I've been friends with the same group of girls since high school, so 15 years now! and I'd always kept it hidden from them, about a year ago I met a fabulous guy and I really opened up to him and since then I've been able to at last talk to my best friend, not in dept, but just a little explanation for some of my behaviour and moods, we haven't been as close as we used to, however since I spoke to her, she's called me almost everyday, texted and generally made herself available for me! She's special! However at the same time, she;s had problems of her own throughout her life and is there fore maybe more equipped to listen to and help others, so don't give your friends to much of a hard time, people are not always necessarily sympathetic to depression!  People don't always know what to say!

Hey ComedyDork,

I was going back a few pages and found this and I swear, you could be my twin. UC and everything!! Haha.

High school was probably THE worst time of my entire life. I was depressed and at times almost suicidal and spent most of the time drinking or doing drugs. I don't know if it was to fit in or to just forget about everything. I think my UC played a large part in it because I was diagnosed in 9th grade and it was pretty traumatic thinking I was the only one with this disease, constantly running to the bathroom in school (which is really difficult to do because teachers always made a big deal about it and were like "too bad, you should've gone on break" I wanted to scream "I DID go on break, twice, and now I have to go again!").

All I'd ever really wanted is that cliche girl friendship that you see in movies, you know, where you have a best friend or even a few best friends that you do everything with, go shopping, to the movies, talk about boys, whatever. It seemed like all of my 'friends' had this bond with someone, but never me. I was always the last resort friend, the one who took their picture but never was in it, the one who they called when their other friends weren't around. So, I definitely stopped hanging out with all of them, and I do talk to one or two occaisionally on myspace but for the most part, I think getting away from them all was a good thing. And after a few years, most of them aren't even friends with their old friends and they've grown up some and it's easier to talk to them now. I still don't have a best friend, other than my boyfriend I guess, but at least I don't have fake friends who make me feel crappy anymore.

And man do I know what you mean about people saying it's all your fault. I can't tell you how many times I've been told "Well maybe if you TRIED to hang out with them, or if you tried to be more outgoing people would want to be your friend" Well ***, why is it that I have to be someone I'm not and make this huge effort when it seems like everyone else just makes instant best friends wherever they go?

It's not our fault that we're introverted or socially anxious or just too cool to relate to the majority of people our age ;)

I did eventually stop hanging out with all my high school "friends" and there are a few I talk to from time to time on myspace but we never hang out.. It's weird, when I meet new people, I get all these thoughts like "What will we do if we hang out? What if they think I'm boring? What could we have in common?" and I think I maybe do sabotage things a little bit in my mind but I do know one thing for sure- most people never talk to their high school friends afterwards, and for the most part I think we're better off without them. Once you're able to work and get back into "life" I'm sure you (and I) will meet some great girls who we can finally vent to without them ignoring us and just waiting for their turn to talk! Heck, we've found it on here anyway, at least that's something. I know it's not the same when you can't get together and hang out in your PJ's and eat giant bowls of ice cream and talk about everything and anything (hey, that's the ideal situation I always imagine, hahaha) but at least it's something :)

Dear Wonderful Friends,

I am way past 40 and I still have problems with friends but I am now at a stage that I need only good friends and not toxic friends so I may shed a tear over losing a friend who is causing me more harm then good and wonder how it all came down to the end but then I have to move on.

If you have access to counseling, that would be wonderful.

Hugs

Kitt

Funny thing, my friends had the same reaction when I said I was depressed (Aww, too bad, but you know what I've been through?) and I loved them for that. I guess I am the opposite of you, I just didn't want them to behave different after I told them.

That said, a lot of good things are already mentioned, so I won't be repeating that. I just want to say that people are the way they are, and don't try to have expectations of how they should behave, because that will only hurt you in the end. Just react to whatever comes your way, and if there not the type of person you like, don't feel bad, but try to meet new people. In the end, you will never feel bad because you accept who and how they are. They (your friends) will most likely reflect that positivity back to you.

All the best!
Erik

Hello, ediekristen! It looks like we're crossing among boards! I wrote a thread about my troubles w/ UC on this board earlier, too.

Sleeping was my drug in high school. It's all I would do if I wasn't sludging my way through homework or stressing about college admissions. 

I never told my "friends" that I was depressed--it didn't even hit full-swing until senior year. And everyone thought I was happy but a little stressed. So it wasn't that they were turned off by my depressed moods. One of my "friends" was really depressed (and showed it) and they put up with it. So, I just don't know what I did wrong.

Ugh, I hate it when people tell me to be different, especially my parents. I  And I like being shy--it's just who I am and I don't want to be outgoing b/c I'm not! And I am outgoing once people get to know me. Why can't we just have some sort of introvert convention?

I've just cut off from my high school friends.

Although my parents and I don't see eye-to-eye, at least I know that they'll be there at the end of the day (which I can't say for anyone else I know).

Post Edited (ComedyDork) : 12/4/2008 6:00:07 PM (GMT-7)

Well you sure don't seem stuck up or shy here. That is what I love about this place. We can be ourselves and don't have to worry about what others think. It is hard being around other people for me too. Especially if I don't know them. But for some reason, it is getting easier. I think that I am getting to the age that I don't really care what other people think. I am just realizing this at this very moment. I think with age and the fibromyalgia, you get to that point of " who gives a darn". I am me and if people can't accept that so be it. I am happy at that moment and that is all that matters. As long as it isn't at anybodies expense.

Everybody is different and that is what makes the world go around.

Hugs to all
Karen

hi,my son is feeling very isolated and low because he has no contact with his old friends they have all moved on.He cannot get out much because he has had ME for the lst 5yrs and his depression has got worse. Any ideas for e buddies or suchlike, or any groups

Hi Comedy dork ,

Just a little addition to say th

I thik dejavu put that very nicely.As you get older the quality of friends change, as for me i have had only a few freinds that i can call good friends. You'll know it when find one thats really a true friend....