Who in your life have you told about your problems?

General Discussion
#1

Hi everyone, I was wondering if we could discuss for a moment more a social side to the problem we have. I was wondering who in your lives you have told about what you are facing? Have you kept it a total secret from everyone? Have you told your immediate family members and no one else? Anyone possibly told people in their professional lives such as coworkers or their boss? I’m just curious what approaches different people have taken and what the outcomes have been.

In one sense, it’s safest to keep it a secret. Better not to tell people about things they wouldn’t understand or might think is a bunch of craziness “all in your head”. On the other hand, one of the worst things is generally how alone we are in dealing with it. It also might be beneficial to know that when people see you are less-than breezing through life, then at least you can believe that maybe they understand you are facing something difficult and might recognize your struggles as rational (rather than just thinking you are an innately sad person irrationally depressed all the time etc.)

Just curious to hear other peoples’ experiences when it comes to the issue of who in their lives to share what they are facing with.

#3

Id say I’m undecided on how useful its been to tell peope. So far ive told parents, sibling, and psychologist. On the one hand, its nice to get it off your chest in a way and to just be able to talk about it with someone. For therapeutic reasons rather than orherwise productive ones. But it hasnt been as great to do so as perhaps Id hoped. Ultimately, Im still left feeling (a) that they still wont ever know what its really like so in a way futile to attempt to explain and (b) it takes a lot of time and effort to try to explain and I havent ever come away confident that any of them definitely believe thats its real rather than in my head anyway. So in a way, it has some potential to actually increase frustration. As I say, been mixed for me.

I think you have a good point that talking to people who knew what you were like before are the first choice because theres hifher probability of having the feeling that they believe you.

#4

I have talked about it with a few of my close close friends, also my sister and my father. I think its good to share the pain, but in the end we’re all alone because no one can undestand the loss without suffering it themselves.

2 Likes
#5

One of the first people I told was my girlfriend at the time. She was extremely understanding and helpful, very optimistic as well. Unfortunately, the dynamic of our relationship changed dramatically due to the severity of my symptoms and constant crashes I was having. I went from a super strong and muscular, high energy, charismatic, party animal type person to the complete opposite. That was the type person she was too. So you can see where that would’ve caused issues. She ended up cheating on me about 1 year after I developed symptoms. This was 7-8 months ago. I still dream about her every night due to the fact I was in love and still am. There’s no doubt in my
mind that we would still be together if I didn’t develop this.

Since then, I’ve told my immediate family. And several of my close friends. They understand, but don’t get it, or how serious it is because when I’m around them I act like I’m fine, and if I am around them I’m not crashed and my life is livable when I am not crashed. The only two people who really understand and GET IT as of now is my mother and her boyfriend. It took a year to drill in her head what is going on. You have to be very patient. They will not get it for months. My mom finally gets it and requested that I come over the other day and tell her how much she needs to inject me with TRT if I am ever unconscious. And what happens and how to manage a severe crash- because I am certain at this point, and I am sure @awor would agree that if our respective hormones were raised we would probably die.

6 Likes
#6

The same goes for me my friend @gents93 , from a strong manly and muscular man I became a shit and I’m also damned in love with the woman I love. I love her even more than before. I have reached the highest non-human expression of love that transcends love itself.

#7

fuck my sex life. the mental problems are way harder for me. everytime i need to study my head is so fucked up…

2 Likes