Verywell / Nez Riaz
Deciding to tell the people you love that you’re struggling withdepressionis a big step.
Remember though, you are in control and you get to choose who knows and who doesn’t.
You have no way of knowing for sure how they will respond.
Verywell / Nez Riaz
In some cases, you may even want to share yourcrisis planwith a few trusted friends or family friends.
Social Support Is Key
The key is that you try not to deal with depression alone.
Being depressed already heightens feelings of isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness.
They may also not knowwhat to say to someone who is depressed.
Consequently, you may want to carefully choose who you disclose this information to and when.
Start by making a list of the most supportive people you know.
Typically, these people are the ones you should tell first.
Remember, not everyone knows how to offer emotional support though.
It just means that they may not be the best ones to invite into your journey.
In fact, telling themparticularly when you are vulnerablemay be counterproductive.
How Many People Should You Tell?
There is no right or wrong number of people to tell.
In fact, the number will be different for everyone.
You are the expert on your situation and can decide what is best for you.
In other words, what are your perceptions of depression as well as your expectations of yourself?
But, you shouldn’t let these feelings stand in your way.
Good friends remind you that you are worthy and that your life is worth living.
Try not to worry about what the person will think of your situation.
Remind yourself that they love you and want to support you even if they don’t know how.
So, think about what you might like from your friend.
Congratulate yourself on having the courage to share your diagnosis with another person.
You have just taken another step forward in your recovery and healing.
Keep in mind though that telling other people you are depressed can be both beneficial and healing.
Reach out to those closest to you and invite them into your life.
You might be surprised how much better you will feel just by having a fewsupportive peoplearound you.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Disclosing to others.
VA Suicide Prevention Resources.What is a safety plan?.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Harandi TF, Taghinasab MM, Nayeri TD.The correlation of social support with mental health: A meta-analysis.Electron Physician.
