How to talk to your parents about depression

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Do you remember your last emotional breakdown? Whose face popped into your mind? Was it your parents? For many—certainly not.
Talking to parents about depression is challenging and perhaps an arduous task. You hesitate about bringing emotional or mental health issues to parents, worrying that they won’t take you seriously, the conversation could be embarrassing, or you’ll be stigmatized. It’s understandable—expressing your feelings to parents that you’re going through anxiety or depression can be tough. But, it’s not impossible.

In the current isolation period, working from home can make you emotionally crippled, which can often result in anxiety. If you’re depressed, seeking help from your parents can be a better option than passing each day alone in your room and continuing to burden your mind.

Here are some ways to make talking about depression a little easier.

Time is important
The time that you choose to strike a conversation with your parents matters a lot. Choose a time when your parents are free to talk—it can be an evening walk, long drive, or anytime that you feel comfortable.

Ask them for help
This is the basic step that you can start with. Try to explain the situation to them. Fret not to seek help. It’s all about you and how you start. Make them understand the seriousness of your issue and tell them to help you to get over this.

Write to them
Everybody won’t be good at talking. If you are someone who can’t talk well, let words talk for you. Jot down your feelings and emotions in a letter. While writing, make sure that you explain how serious the situation is. Writing can help you express yourself, so you can give the letter to your parents and let them read your thoughts in their own time.

Make things clear for them
Once you tell them about depression, the next step is to seek help. Unfortunately, parents can’t be saviors all of the time. Don’t be afraid to seek counselling. Ask your parents to help you book an appointment with a doctor. You might also ask your parents to accompany you to the therapist.

Build stronger relationships with your parents through the Longwalks app with prompts that help you discuss meaningful topics with family and friends.