Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
An old friend called my phone, wanting to know how I have been coping since she heard from my friends that I "decided" to be depressed. According to her she wanted us to be friends just like old times. Haven't heard from her in 2 years. She went to Germany with her folks and she is now back.
I said fine, never had a problem with it. Decided to tell her the gis of what is going on, it was quite hard for me to summarize my issues for someone who was constantly happy when I knew her.
Now I did something, maybe I was stupid I don't know, but I emailed her my journal. I left out various personal stuff out it. I was so glad and excited when she told me that she was willing to read my journal. I mean this as no disrespect to anyone, I have met some wonderful people here. However there are times when I would like to interact with tangible people.
Well she called me back, apparently she had just finished reading my journal. She was in a mess. Crying her eyes out, scared out of her wits. I had to calm her down (me of all persons) She was so anxious in wanting to know what I have been going through. Dammm it, now I'm afraid she won't call back or worse. I hope I didn't accidentally trigger some form of depression with her. Emailed her around 17 pages worth of feelings, emotions and doctors visits.
I was so focused on myself I didn't even ask her about the time she spent in Germany. Was there a better for me to make her understand?
I said fine, never had a problem with it. Decided to tell her the gis of what is going on, it was quite hard for me to summarize my issues for someone who was constantly happy when I knew her.
Now I did something, maybe I was stupid I don't know, but I emailed her my journal. I left out various personal stuff out it. I was so glad and excited when she told me that she was willing to read my journal. I mean this as no disrespect to anyone, I have met some wonderful people here. However there are times when I would like to interact with tangible people.
Well she called me back, apparently she had just finished reading my journal. She was in a mess. Crying her eyes out, scared out of her wits. I had to calm her down (me of all persons) She was so anxious in wanting to know what I have been going through. Dammm it, now I'm afraid she won't call back or worse. I hope I didn't accidentally trigger some form of depression with her. Emailed her around 17 pages worth of feelings, emotions and doctors visits.
I was so focused on myself I didn't even ask her about the time she spent in Germany. Was there a better for me to make her understand?
Is there a better way for us to tell our friends?
Always.
The reality is that we never know the best way to tell them until we have told them. It is just that way.
You have had a long time (25 years) to get a handle on your emotions, for better worse. You gave her the immersion method and she felt really overwhelmed.
Give her some time and space to wrap her arms around what you told her. Or perhaps give her some time and space so she can realize that she can NOT wrap her arms around it. Either way, when she calms down a bit it will be the time to talk.
Depression is a clinical thing. I doubt that you gave her depressed. You might have scared her, but think of it this way. You are who you are, the same basic person you were before you sent her that email. The only difference is that now she knows more about you.
I believe that she will come around!
I hated the world, and hated so many people in it. And I made the mistake of showing her that side of me. She blocked me because she freaked out over the things I had said, because she in her life had never gone through such dark thoughts. I realized after she blocked me that some people can't handle true feelings.
Its like, life isn't always skits and giggles and rainbows and ponies. While I do love such things, I don't pretend that there is no darkness, that there isn't no evil in this world. There certainly is, you can't escape the truth no matter how much you try. But when you can do is accept that it is there, and do your best to not sercome to the darkness itself.
Accepting my transgender and learning to love myself was probably the best thing I could ever do. Because it has changed me for the better. But there is going to always be people who can't be able to understand or be able to deal with real problems. There are a lot of people out there who are truly in the dark and don't know whats really going on in the world.
In other words, there are a lot of closed eyes who have not yet opened them and awakened. Everybody reaches different levels of consiousness on their own. I guess we must allow people to reach those levels on their own. Because we can only show them the door, they have to be the ones to walk through it.
Best advice is to apologize for coming on too strong. And offer this person to be there for them love them. See if you can meet up with them in real life, if not, then try to get video chatting on Skype or something. You guys need to connect on a personal level, and sometimes, more often then not, text is a poor way to communicate.
HUGGS
Ashley