When You Feel Like Your Family Doesn’t Care About Your Depression

A girl with depression
God & Man

You feel like no one cares that you’re suffering, but that’s not the truth. They care. They just can’t see what you’re going through because you hide it so well. They don’t understand the extent of your pain, because you never talk to them. You never let them know what’s going on. Whenever you actually dare to talk about your problems, you make a joke out of them to make your suffering seem less severe than it actually is, so they overlook what you’ve said. They can’t help you, because you aren’t letting them help you. You are pushing them away. You are making them think you are perfectly fine.

Or maybe that’s not the case at all. Maybe the signs are right in front of their faces. Maybe you were brave enough to let them know that you needed help, maybe you have actually said the words to them, and they didn’t believe it. They brushed it off and assumed you were going through a phase. That you were being dramatic. Maybe you have tried to explain what has been bothering you and they got mad at you for acting like your life is so shitty. Maybe they have tried to guilt trip you with things like, “Are we really so horrible to live with? Do you really hate us that much?” Maybe they acted like your pain was more of a burden than anything else. Maybe they acted like they didn’t want to hear it.

Even if that was there reaction, it isn’t because they don’t love you. It’s because they love you too much. That’s why they don’t see how much you’re suffering. They don’t want to see it. If they saw it, then they would have to admit that something is wrong. That something needs to change. That their behavior might have contributed toward your suffering. That they may have made things worse. That they might need to change too.

You have to understand, there are people who care about you, even if they show it in a shitty way. Even if they are toxic and don’t deserve to be a part of your world anymore.

But think of it this way — even if there isn’t one other person on this planet who cares about you (which isn’t the case), who the fuck cares? You aren’t living for them. You are living for you.

You are worthy of happiness. You deserve to feel fulfilled. You are going to make something of yourself one day. You are going to earn so much more than you ever thought you were capable of achieving, because you are stronger than anyone, even yourself, realizes.

You might feel like a failure today. You might feel completely alone today. You might doubt things will change for you as of today.

But you have a beautiful heart. You have a beautiful mind. You have a beautiful spirit.

You are going to get through this period of suffering soon — and I’m sorry if your loved ones aren’t there to support you, but there are other people who will. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

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