Mental illness like Depression is treatable why are so many ashamed to get help?

Over the years I've heard people say Snap out of it. Depression is a medical mental illness that can be treated and prevented with medication and or therapy (or both). I think their are millions of people suffering from Mild Depression to Bipolar disorder also known as Manic Depression. Don't be ashamed and seek help. I couldn't figure out what was bothering me until I started doing some research on the internet. The National Institute of Mental Health gave me a lot of valuable information. I'm feeling better these days because I'm on medication and I'm in therapy. Don't struggle in silence. We all deserve to live a happy healthy life. Seek help because this mental illness will not go away if you just ignore it.
I also found out that mental illness runs in my family. My little sister has been suffering since she was around 12 yrs old and she's now 35 yrs old. She was diagnosed in college. The medication balanced her moods and her manic episodes. Look for the sign and symptoms,...

That was a great article that you posted about yourself. It is so true that their is a stigma attached to Depression and other mental illnesses. I suffered from depression all through my childhood and into my adult life. I managed to survive and be successful. (I also heard "snap out of it", "you'll get over it", "stop the pity party" etc. I went through many years of keeping my feelings to myself and plodding along with that monkey on my back. I finally hit rock bottom and ended up hospitalized. While it was frightening it was the best thing that ever happened to me as they put me on medication (SSRI) and after a few months I bounced back better than I had ever been in my life. If you go to Miami New Times on the web and search under "The Last Temptation of George Petrie" you will see the story of my downward spiral due to untreated depression. You are so right....it will not go away if you just ignore it....it will devour you. Thanks for your comments.

SSRI = What does IT stand for exactly?
What are you "Bouncing", "Survivor" ignoring here:
"The Last Temptation" ?
Your "devouring""Problems" are more deeply rooted than you have been...prescribed, maybe ? Report It

The Age test exhibited now - well...I never got an answer back.
I sent myself an e-mail of Congratulations.
Ask your SSRI Experts to try & explain why I did that, maybe they can 'Fantom" IT ? Report It

To Be Fair though: some Professionals can help - but if we are to evaluate the success rate of our "Archmages", well...not very impressive. Try Psychobabble first before Psychiatry. Why ?
Methinks too many would be at a complete loss Playing Our Game.
They cannot 'empathise' most of the Time. Report It

BtW so that You all can believe we are Living on the Same Planet - Sense is IMPORTANT check the Medical Practices in Mental Institutions in the USA - shock treatment is still here-&-there, compliments of WW 1 - but in Eugenics, The Clitoris was excised well into the 20th C. Fact. Report It

There is a Book written by an American Man about Eugenics "Experiments" in the USA in the 20th C- I read it, but Find it yourselves SVP.
So, in 'Posh' Asian state, you get 'sort-of-something-cut -off Baby Girls - Mufti write on the Web - Fact - so combined with Episiotomies, etc... Report It

The Psyche:
To appease IT - why Here? - check Normans' Gene/History & ask one of our French Kings why Normandy had to be "Granted",
Best Answer: "Juggle Better".
Everyone Loves/Hates America, so for those dying to be Yankees ask US to watch THEIR "Arrieres/Derrieres". Report It

Note also: People of Islamic Culture possess very "creative" Poetry - it imbibes One with a sense of Wondering Liberation.
Is "Psychiatry 's Speech Poetic" enough ?
Well, while that's Being pondered, a Western Woman does
"Norman's Normandy". Take IT.
"Sensibly." Report It

Time for "High Noon Tea".
"Swell !" Report It

Many people who have depression have tried medication and therapy. Lots of these people who suffer feel as if nothing helps so they stop seeking treatment, which can lead to devastating effects. Some are embarrassed but eventually will have an episode where they are forced to seek treatment. Others feel as if they have no insurance and do not want to go to a clinic for they feel that is beneath their standards. It is very sad for depression can rob a person of so many things. Thank you for submitting this question so others may have a chance to seek help. take care.

Many people do not think they have problems, or even will refuse that they will.

And then people like me hate going to those doctors. They are superficial and completely useless. So why go when all it does is waste gas, money, and time?

My brother refuses to get help and I don't know why. After this long of a time, I'm beginning to think he likes the total lack of responsibility he has by being "depressed." I don't mean to say that other people feel this way, but my brother will stay in bed 1/2 the day or all day, cry, mope around, say he's so so depressed, and yet when we offer to take him to a doctor, he refuses. He refuses to get therapy. He refuses to see any doctor. He refuses to consider medication. He refuses to do what you do and that's look for answers. He refuses to eat right.

I don't know why he's more ashamed to get help than he is to live unemployed, stealing from my mom for cash.

It's not that people are ashamed I just think it has to get to a point where it really interferes with a person's life. I didn't seek help until my friend suggested that I had changed and had been acting strange for about three years. Therapy can be good for you as it helps you to think about your moods and what triggers your episodes. However, I refuse to take any medication. I was first diagnosed with having Depression then with being Bipolar.

People have to be willing to admit that there is a problem. Sort of like admitting alcoholism or being addicted to drugs.

I can't help but agree with devinthedragon.

I was prescribed Zoloft by a general practitioner, which then made me have extreme thoughts of suicide. The weird part was, I didn't want to kill myself, and I never did before that point either. The thoughts would just plague me and it freaked me right out. I seriously thought I was going to end up killing myself. Thankfully, my husband brought me to the hospital and they admitted me for several days until I rode out the medication. I can still remember closing my eyes and seeing demons and feeling the deep despair. It felt so hopeless, the only way I could describe it was "I can't feel God's presence".

The problem is this: all these medications are not perfect. People know this. Especially with the new black box warnings on antidepressants.

When most doctors want to just shove a prescription down your throat, and there's a possible risk of getting worse and killing yourself, I guess I don't blame people for not seeking help.

So whats the solution? See a specialist, like a psychiatrist. What does that mean? Endless endless dicking around by insurance companies.

This all happened to me back in February and I'm still trying to get my insurance to pay for it.

You mentioned that "depression is a medical mental illness.." then why does my insurance company have a seperate company handle mental health? Am I not one body?

There needs to be more love, understanding and acceptance of people experiencing mental disorders, and until insurance companies stop seperating it from "normal medicine" then most people won't stop seperating it either.

I was the first in my family to seek help, more than 20 years ago. Other members of my family would just say, "Snap out of it," and like things. They also didn't like me talking to 'strangers' about my problems, or taking medication regularly--but fortunately, I kept going, and kept taking the meds.

Looking back, I realize that both my mom and dad were depressed, but they did not see that. If they did, they most likely thought about the stigma attached to seeing a therapist (psychiatrist, psychologist)--and never sought help. They might both still be living had they gone for help (though they would be quite up in years, if so).

The trouble is those people that are depressed or bi-polar are struggeling with so much internally that they often feel hopeless, and like theres nothing that will ever help them feel better. And they are unmotivated to try and find the help they need.
People avoiding getting help because they are ashamed, are ashamed because society treats people with a mental illness as though they were less then human. It becomes like "oh this person has a mental illness thats what they're problem is" and less about the fact that even though they struggle with an illness they have feelings and want people to care about them, and not tell them "oh we think you need a med adjustment"
I've struggled with depression and bi-polar first hand so I know it from the inside. But I also work in a mental health group home with people with these illnesses and more severely schizophrenia. What really needs to happen is we need to work on the stigma that surrounds the illnesses. It breaks my heart to see the people I work with, treated as something less then someone else.
We still have alot of growing to do when it comes to these illnesses. I wish people could see first hand how wonderful these people are, instead of treating them the way they do out of ignorance.
Good question.

Kendra starred this Question. She is a Favourite Fan of Mine. Why ?
"C'est une Anglaise reservee et tres bien elevee."
Me French, so
"Go with the Flow" here.
In one of Washington DC's most prestigious Publication, a Father's Deep Laments leave a lot to be desired regarding the benefits of Psychiatry. This Wrecked Father is now involved in an Organisation (Anti-Abortion), trying to warn Doctors against the Dangers of terminating Pregnancy.
He had a 21 year Old Daughter. He had...She had an abortion, didn't tell anyone - after all, why should she have told about this very personal Choice ?- but Her Sharp Conscience could not be appeased. Obviously. Why ?
Well, how could a Psychiatrist who doesn't have a problem with Colleagues doing " their thing" with embryonic research, and the abominable lies about the numbers of soaring C-sections and episiotomy Rituals, help a Young Woman of Sound Mind ? How ? So "Antigone of Anouilh" who didn't want to be in the "Adult's Dirty Kitchen" Played Antigone.
She turned Her back on Life: Took Her Own Life.
Kendra starred one of my Q. where it is mentioned Japanese Women's Culture give a Woman a Place of "Burial Rest" to Her embryo/Baby. Last I checked in England, one has to consent First to the 'Establishment' use of embyo & then one can have the Abortion. As you know it is not the same as a Tooth extraction, but sign you must, no ?
My Q. to this Heart-Broken Father would be:
"What would you experience as a Man, if you didn't have a Grave on which to Mourn your Daughter, Dear Father, what then ? Who would be able to console you ?
What would attenuate your Despair ?"
Beware of some Experts - they cannot help, on the contrary.
Seek People who are WHOLE.

The fact that the term mental illness is a category, but people think it is a diagnosis, is a culprit here for stigma. An axe murderer was mentally ill - the shooter at VA Tech was diagnosed mentally ill - OK so if you are a nice person who donated your kidney to your aunt and you dress up as a clown and visit kids at the hospital, somehow because you are mentally ill you are lumped in with the murderers.

I think it is getting a lot better. As treatments improve and more people speak about it firsthand (do you tell others about it?) then the stigma will go away.

I'm 14 and have major depression.
People feel ashamed prob, because they need pills to be happier or less angry, when other people can do it without pills. And sometimes you might think you have something, and it turns out to be something else, look at all options. I'm in the process of seeing if I have an overactive thyroid, when in the beginning my doctor thought I may be bi polar. You never know what you can have, don't look at things online or you'll start assuming you have something you don't. List all abnormal symptoms you have and take it to the doctor where they can properly treat you.