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A MyDepressionTeam Member asked a question 💭
Cincinnati, OH

There's some people, few but still, that I believe make my mental illness and energy feel super negative, just being around them and the way they are around me and act and treat me. What do I do when I have to be around them? It's not people I can be away from, so any ideas would be welcome.

April 24, 2017
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A MyDepressionTeam Member

Feel your pain. It's a toughie when you have no choice to be around them, but brilliant that you are limiting your exposure to them as for me that would be the 1st step.
I would not respond to any calls or texts, and if in conversation and it turns negative either walk away if possible, or change the subject continuously.
Remember these people are the one with the problem not you, you don't have to make nice or explain your motives to anyone.

April 28, 2017
A MyDepressionTeam Member

in my younger years I would cuss them out, know I just walk away

April 27, 2017
A MyDepressionTeam Member

I shut them out. I noticed that phone calls with my parents always affected me negatively. They were extremely judgmental of me living in China, of my choice of girlfriend, of my career choices. The list was endless. What’s worse, they were in denial that I was going through depression and kept saying to “pull myself together”. Honestly, they just made me feel like shit. So I shut them out. I blocked their emails and phone numbers from reaching me. I came to the conclusion that even though they were my parents, they had no right to say anything they wanted without considering my feelings. My mental health was more important than my relationship with them. Sometimes you need to be selfish to help yourself. I knew that this would cause them pain in the short run but I had to take control of the situation. I shut them out for a year and a half before slowly readmitting them into my life. My relationship with them now is stronger than ever. They understood with time. If they don't, then it's not worth giving them your time.

I write more about my experience in my book "Depression Blueprint". It's free to download on Kindle May 4 - May 8: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZXVMXWK

May 5, 2017
A MyDepressionTeam Member

I keep a ( song) in my heart and sing it silently in my head works for me ( smile)

May 1, 2017
A MyDepressionTeam Member

YES that sounds like me

April 29, 2017

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