Talking about Depression

It can be really hard to start a conversation about depression with someone you care about. Because depression doesn’t show up as a physical illness like a chest cold or a stomach bug it can be hard to describe what you are going through. Having a starting point to talk about depression is a great way to begin the conversation.

In a prior post, we talked about what depression is and how it may present itself to you. That list may be a great place to start talking to your parents about what is happening. If you are having symptoms try saying something like “This has been going on for a (however long) and I think I need some help with it.” If you are worried about being judged or given advice you could say “I just need someone to listen right now, I don’t need advice, just a caring ear.”

What are your suggestions for someone who is having trouble raising a difficult topic? How can they start the conversation?