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Being around people worsens my depression?

Being around people worsens my depression?

I'm living together with my parents at the moment, and my brother would always bring over his kids every day for my parents to watch, so my house is always crowded with people all the time, and I noticed how I tend to be in a low mood all the time and I'm always feeling cranky.

This only happens when I'm around people. When I'm alone in my room at night, I tend to be more calm and less cranky.

Is it normal that being around people worsens my depression? I just want to be alone, but it seems like everywhere I go, there are always people around, and this causes me to be in a low mood all the time

5 replies

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In response to: Being around people worsens my depression?

Re: Being around people worsens my depression?

hi @MintyX I have felt this way sometimes, talked to my husband at the time and he agreed to have a couple of hours a week to be by myself maybe talking to your Parents you could come up with a solution

In response to: Being around people worsens my depression?

Re: Being around people worsens my depression?

Hi @MintyX. Yes sometimes I feel the same way. There are times with my depression and anxiety that I really do need to be by myself. This is my healing time. My time to do a Mindfulness exercise or relaxation. Maybe a time to think or to read a book. Or to even have a nap.
Other times I need the company of othee people and that's when I visit friends or go to the shops. At these times I generally feel in control of how many people I can be around. Also how much extra noise I can tolerate. Sometimes even a quiet walk can be calming for me, if I'm able to hear nature sounds (birds, wind) instead of human noise.
Do you have an outside place that you can get away to?
I like @hope77 response about talking to your parents about some quiet time for yourself.
Good luck.

In response to: Being around people worsens my depression?

Re: Being around people worsens my depression?

Hi @MintyX,

I can absolutely relate to what you are saying. Years ago, I was in the same position as you. I was very lonely in my life, so I would go and visit my parents for a few days at a time, just for some company and something to do.

The thing is, my sister would bring her kids over all the time for my parents to mind! I would find that they would be very pre-occupied with the kids and I would feel that I was more alone than ever. Also, the children were only toddlers and they seemed to be always crying and my mother seemed to be always yelling. Just stress, chaos and noise, constantly. I believe this situation contributed to my depression, I'm sorry to say.

Unless you love kids, then being around them constantly is very tiring; it's not soothing.

The other thing is that for people like me, who suffer from anxiety and depression, you can actually feel better in the evenings anyway, after a full day, so that my partly explain why you feel better alone at night.

It could be worth going for a long walk by yourself, when the children are over, to get some alone time. That's what I used to do. Or go to the library and sit and read. Or go to the movies. Either way, it's good that you recognise that being in a busy environment with lots of people is not for you right now.

When you begin to heal from depression, you may again love being in the company of lots of people. Or you may be more of a loner. We all have different needs when it comes to socializing and solitude.

In response to: Being around people worsens my depression?

Re: Being around people worsens my depression?

Hi @MintyX

Im sorry i cant add anything to what the members have thoughtfully said but I noticed that this is your first post so I just wanted to say hi! and weclcome you to the forums

I hope that you have a look around at some of the other posts about peoples lived experience with mental health and depression like here and here and find the forums useful and supportive

Take Care

In response to: Being around people worsens my depression?

Re: Being around people worsens my depression?

Just wondering how you are going today @MintyX.
Hope you have managed to get some quiet time.
I can relate to what @Sahara said about feeling lonely and wanting that protective comforting support of your parents. And then the frustration because the young kids take all the attention. Even as a grown up, I've felt the jealousy when I need my mum, but her attention needs to be elsewhere.
I wonder when the kids go home in the evening if you and your mum could just sit at the table together and have a cup of tea. Just the two of you. Or even just sit next to each other on the couch. Sometimes you may not want to talk, but just be in the room with her.
Hope your evening is good.
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