i recently told my family about feeling depressed. it was one of the hardest things i’ve ever had to do in my life. i’ve been struggling with it for so long and telling my brother and mom about it was terrifying. at first my mother said things along the line of “well don’t self diagnose yourself just yet...you could be stressed or going through a rough time but that doesn’t mean you have depression...being a teenager is tough everyone gets down...we can talk to a doctor first before you start calling it depression” and it made me feel like she heard me but didn’t like what i was saying. it made me feel like the situation wasn’t a big deal or i shouldn’t worry about it. she made me feel like i was overreacting. i’ve been feeling suicidal and depressed for almost two years now, i think i would know myself well enough to know what i’m feeling. also afterward my brother and i were talking alone. he has been diagnosed with depression and i thought he would understand. however he essentially asked me if i was just saying this to seem cool. because i know two people who go to therapy for major issues in their lives. they made me realize that i should go too wnd get myself sorted. but my brother thought i was doing this to be like my friends and have like a “thing” too. he said “i just hope you’re saying this for the right reasons” and i honestly cannot express how alone and misunderstood i felt in that moment. the person who was supposed to get this the most made me feel two feet tall. i’m now ashamed for even telling them at all.