Dealing with people after you've been diagnosed

[gwmclean]

I have a question for everyone out there.  How do you deal with people once they find out that you are depressed or on medication for depression.  As most of you know, I am just starting out on the road to recovery.  Before I started I tried to keep up a wall that everything was normal, and that I was fine.  But since I have started on my medication and I am telling certain people I sometimes feel awkward around them.  I don't know if I am just being over sensitive, or if they are acting different.  Any advice or how does everyone deal with people?

[ILADVOCATE]

I disclose to everyone who needs to hear it. I don't let any words like "stigma", "suffering" or "shame" define me because they are not true. I say "I am a person with a psychiatric disability". I use that language not because its "politically correct" but because they are true. "Stigma" because that is called discrimination as long as you obey the law and respect other people. "Shame" because there shouldn't be any. "Suffering" because yes having depression is clearly not a positive thing but everyone has negative and positive aspects in their life and that term promotes negativity. I myself am recovered from schizoaffective disorder from an experimental treatment glycine as I've identified in many posts but I also live with tardive dyskinesia and tardive psychosis (in study) and yes of course it causes suffering and is incredibly painful but I don't focus on it. I take what's good in my life and enhance it. I am homebound from the severity of the tardive conditions but I still function as the board president of a non profit advocating for people with disabilities. Everyone recovers as much as they are able but don't let society define your recovery. Stay in treatment and therapy but also become a part of the community and the outside world. A good place to start is to find your local independent living center that are run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities (and although not medical model are pro-treatment and can work with providers as needed). Here's a link for a start:
http://www.ilusa.com/links/ilcenters.htm

[ray31]

We need to realize that we are who we are, its no different than any other illness. Surround yourself with people who accept you and not worry about the others. We cant change others, only ourselves. I tell people (that are close to me) just the way it is. They might not understand but they support and love me anyways.

[lonewolf07]

There is still a negative stigma around "mental illness" like depression and anxiety, although both of them are quite common.  It's sad to have to keep these disorders a secret and to think of them as shameful.  I've suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a child and maybe because I grew up in a different culture, I've never really felt embarrassed of being depressed and anxious.  I don't like it but don't find it shameful.

Also, if you don't want people to know you are depressed and anxious, don't tell them.

If the meds help, take them and let them and your therapist help you.  I'm trying to find an anti-depressant that doesn't give me bad side-effects.

Hope you and lina123 are successful in dealing with these disorders.

[lina123]

my family thoughts is related to our culture.so it is inevitable for them.
in my opinion we can change wrong thoughts.
i don't want to destroy any life.i want to help myself and people.
my family can't accept any mental illness.
i am angry.because one of the my problems is my family and their thoughts.

[lina123]

i am suffering from depression and anxiety and i am taking mediction.
my family don't know that i am taking medication for my problem except my mother that i live with her.my family have negative thoughts about mental illness,counselling and psychotropic medictions.they think that nobody should know about my mental illness.because it will destroy our credit.i can't change thier thoughts.they are older than me except one of them(my sister).
i will try to change their thoughts about mental illnesses.