People Didn't Believe My Mental Illness 

the hardest part of having any type depression or mental illness, is staying silent for so long because bothering other people with your problems is so much worse than suffering through it alone.

"you have such a good life, how can you be depressed?" The first thing my mum said to me when I was diagnosed with depression.

This video made me tear up! I've lived with mental illness for 10+ years and have hit many highs and lows. Hearing other peoples struggles just hurts my soul because I know how hard it can be and how never ending it can feel. Just ride the lows and live for the ups, because the ups will come.

I had a psychiatrist tell me "you don't look like you have anxiety." She made me feel like I was wasting her time. Not even professionals take mental illness seriously - and it's leading to people killing themselves. We need to do better.

"The key to healing is taking away the shame" Well said

me during a crying meltdown: what if the neurotypicals are right and i can control my thoughts and i am Faking It right at this very moment

All of these girls are survivors, I have depression and anxiety and people dont think it’s not a big deal, but it is.

I’m currently in the hospital battling bipolar, anxiety, EDNOS, and ADHD and watching this made me feel less alone

"Some people might not believe you, but I believe you," - Sheridan.

"My boyfriend sat me down and said, 'you don't have to talk to me, but you have to talk to someone.' Later, that boyfriend became my husband" Me: AWWWW

What hurts the most is being called crazy and being told to just get over it. This made me cry.

I literally hate when people (dad) say “it’s all in your head” and I can’t even explain to him because he just gets mad

Can buzzfeed make a part 2 of this but with men included? I feel like guys out here with eating disorders and other stuff need to know that it's a real thing for them too and that they're not alone

The first time I tried to explain my anxiety to somebody other than my husband, I received the response "Well it's not cancer. You're not dying." No, it's not cancer and no, I'm not dying. But I am not okay. And you are the reason I no longer talk about this.

No one believes me about my anxiety and depression...and whenever I go into the school nurses office they just tell me I’m faking my stomach aches and head aches. I go to the nurse 5 times a month and whenever I go they still refuse to call my parents.

"the key to healing is taking away the shame" ✊🏼

Im a doctor.. and im so embarassed that some doctors are so rude.. and they dont understand.. i would never do that to one of my patients

I have depression But I'm sick of telling people I'm depressed because they never understand ....

After I was diagnosed with ADHD, my own dad denied it. He said it was an excuse to not hold still and ignore the things around me. Denying it WON'T. MAKE. IT. GO. AWAY.

When I told a person I trusted about my ED, she secretly told my mom (which I see in a positive way nowadays but back then I hated her for it)... whatever my mom was like "oh she just wants attention, it's puberty" and never confronted me or anything... so 5 years later I'm even a lot deeper into my ED, fighting so hard against it but I'm still in the beginning of recovery and my mom is like "if I only knew about it, you never told me, you lied to me, etc." 🙄

No one believes me either. It's nice to know that I'm not alone.

if someone doesn't believe when i mention my anxiety disorder, or when i had clinical depression, i tell them how lucky they are that they've never been in a position to.

"when people say the it's your fault, you're doing it to yourself, you're not." I have bulimia nervosa and nobody knows about it and I'm kind of dying inside myself.

My depression has been laughed at, and I'm tired now. I lay awke till 3 a.m., and cry only when I'm alone, because I'm sick of making my family miserable. I don't have many friends, and those I do have never dealt with this, or felt so deep in the darkness that you stop wanting to find the light.

Metal health has been a struggle in my life since I first attempted suicide at age 12. I literally had a doctor tell me "you should just stop cutting yourself," and "you're too young to have mental illness." It was so invalidating and hurtful, and now I'm 16 years old and finally getting the care I need. Give things time, recovery isn't an event, it's a process.

As someone who struggled/struggles with an eating disorder, it's comforting to know that I'm not alone.

I really want to hug all of them so bad

I struggle with social anxiety in particular.. and the pressure that you put on yourself or what you think others are putting on you is unbearable sometimes. I would use things like making my friends laugh or do something good for them to make them smile, was my way of telling myself that I was good enough, that this was normal. I continued to do this everyday and even categorize the good days and bad days based on how much I made them laugh or smile... this on going cycle went on for years, and I’m getting better with dealing with it to this day but still have those oppressing thoughts. For anyone who suffers from social anxiety, anxiety in general, or just any type of mental illness, just keep fighting! People who don’t suffer don’t understand the fact that your brain is fighting you and pushing you down... just keep fighting cause the worst is behind you!!

One time I told my dad that I was overwhelmed and about to have a panic attack because he was yelling at me, he told me to get over it. When he left I broke down into tears. Everyone deserves to be heard, you are important no matter what.

i have mishophonia, a brain disorder that makes me extremely mad about small sounds like chewing, breathing, typing on you phone and that sorts of stuff. When me and my family sat around our diner table to eat, i would always have a war inside my head if i should storm to bedroom or just cry. My parents didnt belive me when i said i couldnt sleep with her inthe same room because of her breathing. So i always cried myself to sleep. i just want to say that mishophonia is a real brain condision, people who have it where born that way and should be respected more!

I remember in school I was depressed and suicidal. I couldn't sleep at night and I tried to kill myself many times. I wrote a suicide note that my Mom found while I was at school and when I came home she said I was overreacting and I was grounded. I remember at school this one girl was dumped and she kept saying 'This is what people with depression must feel like'' and I got so mad I yelled at her and got punished. My Mom's boyfriend said I wasn't a real man for expressing my emotions. He was on a call one day and said how he was 'Really Depressed'' and I just laughed and cried. Just goes to show that you shouldn't compare yourself to people with a real mental illness.

I was sexually assaulted 4 years ago and I was blamed for it not the person who did it. I was depressed since then I self harmed a lot I struggled with an eating disorder.i also hung out with the wrong crowd of people during my middle school years and then my freshman and sophomore year of high school I felt like I needed to be someone different and I still hung out with the like cool people that were still bad though and I was pressured into a couple of bad things that I regret. I am bi and I don’t have any friends that I can trust in completely everything. But now I have gotten closer to god I know that he likes me for me and made me like this I now have defeated my eating disorder and I don’t self harm anymore I still have rough patches in my life. And I still don’t have any friends to rely on but I’m fine with it and i am now a better person now i only mildly struggle with anxiety. I have become my better self and I’m proud of it. ❤️ (sorry for the rant.)

My anxiety got so bad that I started to get scared of falling asleep in fear of the unconsciousness

I have anxiety and depression but people are always like “but your so happy and loud all the time!” “You always have a smile on your face” and then the people who actually see me for who I am ask me when I’m looking sully or quiter than usual but instead they say “don’t worry, it’s a phase you will get through this.” Nope.

I struggled with eating disorder, anxiety, depression and PTSD for most of my life and wasn’t even aware or didn’t start getting treatment until the past two years, partially due to my family’s culture and the stigma surrounding mental health that it took me a long time to get the help I needed. Symptoms have decreased a lot and in a better place than I was before, but still have a lot to recover from but I’m committed. Thanks for making this video, videos like this are helpful

I remember last year when I ate 300 calories or less a day and I can confirm that the difference in my mental state was staggering- I couldn’t concentrate on anything and I felt numb. It was horrific yet my life seemed to be running smoother than ever before, the starvation almost masked the depression and anxiety I have battled for so long. I felt so weak and frail- my parents would continually make comments on my eating habits and how boney my shoulders were, as Christmas approached I began to stop logging my calories as much but I gained weight quickly, it truly is terrible how this mentality can take such a toll on your body and mind, and although I’m certainly far from recovered I hope you can reach out and gain the help you need

People don't understand my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and people just think everyone has OCD, no they don't.

This video made me feel less alone

I’ve been struggling with mental illness since I was 13. 10 years of my life has been devoted to this struggle. Up until I was a senior in college (2 years ago) my parents did not believe me. I had been initially diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety. But things got so much worse in my second year of college. As a senior I was taking antidepressants, and they made everything worse. I ended up in the hospital twice due to breakdowns and suicidal ideations within 8 months. The second time I was in the hospital I was pushed into an outpatient program and finally had a real diagnosis. I’ve been living with a bipolar disorder diagnosis for 2 and a half years now. And I’m finally exactly where I’ve always wanted to be. Reaching out and getting help can really change your life. And don’t ever brush friends, or family off when they’re trying to help. They might not understand, but they’re doing the best they can.

"I seemed fine but I know I DIDN'T feel it " this hits hard 😭😭

For me, being told "are you doing it for attention or what?" hurt worse than actually going through depression. Like why would I, someone who hates attention, go that far for negative attention...

I feel like the common misconception people have with mental illnesses (esp. depression) is that they expect you to be sad 24/7 which is not the case at all. You can be happy, laugh, have fun when you're at school/work or around friends & family but have an emotional breakdown when you're alone. That's what I hate the most about manic depression (bipolar disorder), some days I can be really okay and happy but then it gets really bad out of nowhere. It's tough but knowing you are not alone and people around the world are being strong too is so comforting, really. edit: I am aware that manic depression is bipolar disorder. It means having extreme mood swings. During the depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, a person may experience a severe form of depression that is similar to major depression.

I have paranoid personality disorder and my best friends sometimes jokes on it and it feel so bad that I can't even express myself 😭

Got diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Was told by my mother that I was just looking for attention and being a drama queen. Several years of therapy and a move later, I no longer talk to my mom and I’m getting the help I actually need.

Ive been trying to tell my parents for so long that I think somethings up. After doing my research I have many symptoms of Anxiety, ADHD, and Bipolar Disorder. My mom is just now starting to help me find ways to contol it and my doctor already reccomended I see a therapist. Im so happy to know that some people understand.

People in my grade joke about OCD. If something is slightly out of place people will say "OH NO!!! I HAVE TERRIBLE OCD!!" And stuff like that and it's really annoying

She's so true, depression enters your life when everything is just perfect..its horrible I'm going through depression right now..

My mom doesn’t believe I have a problem either. When she found out I had been self harming, she brushed it off and told me that I was attention seeking. She said I had absolutely no reason to be feeling like this, making it seem like it was wrong. A while later she said I’d speak with someone, but I never end up actually seeing anyone. My friends don’t take it very seriously either, they usually just keep quiet. I have had many suicidal thoughts but I haven’t ever attempted.

I have Social anxiety, and people never believe me. they always say that I'm probably just shy

This video honestly was so comforting to watch, A while back I got into an car crash and shortly after some guys threatened to beat me up bc I'm gay and even though at first I didnt notice it doing anything to me, now I'm honestly a mess. I went out to get help and got diagnosed with depression, eating disorder, anxiety, panic disorder and PTSD. I got anti depressents which aren't doing a lot at the moment. The only thing I do is lay in bed, nap and watch some netflix and I see my friends going out to party's, living their life's and I know I'm a burden so thats why I just stopped asking if I could come along and also because I just can't get out of the house anymore without freaking out over a little thing and I'm honestly starting to feel lonelier and more isolated by day. So thank you so much for showing me I'm not alone

I have Insomnia & Depression. I have lived with this for 2 years, And I just got therapy. I was scared about telling people about my Depression. I get better each session and I just started getting better. But the stress and social anxiety sticks with me, Causing me Insomnia. For anyone going through this, *I AM HERE FOR YOU*

I remember telling 2 mental health professionals that I saw regularly and my mom that I thought I was autistic and none of them believed me. I was incredibly discouraged. A year later I finally decided it was time to try finding someone who would actually listen to me. I found someone who specializes in adult autism online, made an appointment, and got diagnosed 3 months ago. Never stop fighting for yourself! You deserve to be heard.

I just got out of my therapy session for struggling with severe anxiety and depression and all I have to say is please understand that people have issues even if they smile when they speak to you or everything seems alright, you don't know what people are going through. When it comes to mental illnesses, just because you can't see it, it doesn't mean it's not there.

It feels good too know someone else has a similar problem and you're not alone...

Finding someone who can understand and help you is the most important thing to help you get through it

I just got diagnosed with severe OCD. My parents said I am just over reacting.

I struggle with depression, I have recently gotten an appointment to therapy, and now they're assigning me to medicine. People thought that I was faking my illness and even my parents thought that I was doing this for attention. And now my parents realize that I need help, and so far...nothing is really working right now.

I have anxiety and I don't think people realise how bad it actually is, I suffer from panic attacks and my anxiety just takes over me x💓

9:12 .... thank you

Inspiring video, thank you ladies for sharing your stories. This video really helped me and I appreciate everything you all said. I have my own demons I battle everyday and this video made me feel a little more like myself. Thank you, thank you again! Please keep making videos about mental awareness. You’re all inspiring! Keep it up, you’re going to help so many young men and woman actually of all ages not just young. Thank you for giving me the courage to go talk to a therapist! You ladies are nothing but inspiring 💜💜 much love from Canada 🇨🇦

I've been trying to get help for 19 years. They keep telling me its just anxiety but I KNOW its more. And my depression is so bad, I can barely function.

I have panic disorder and this video made me feel not alone 💜

In Know what it feels like, I have OCD, and Mild hints of ADHD, ADD and other things, sometimes I do the randomest things in class, because of my OCD. I wont go into detail of them, its personal. But I remember when my "friend' leaked it out to the school. I was called names like, "attention seeker" and "fake". My heart shattered into smaller pieces everytime I heard that. Rumors went arounds our school, and somehow spread to the next town over. I just stopped trying, and gave up a little on life. Kids would make of me, and do things with my OCD just to see me do it. I suffered a lot at that time and I still suffer from those disorders, and from those people. Just so you know, your situation will get better. :)

This made me literally cry. I am touched by how raw this was and even tho i dont have any of these I feel for all of those that do. Kno that u r amazing in the body/ mind u have

Nobody believes me when I say I have depression or anxiety, because I'm so happy most of the time. I only cover it up because I hate having to answer the questions people ask, and they don't know what depression and anxiety feel like.

Don't try to solve their problem for them. If they have Depression, don't tell them it's getting old or that they should just get some fresh air or that it'll pass as if it never happened. Motivate them, tell them they really do mean something to you, love them. If they have Anxiety, don't push them, don't tell them to man up or that they're overreacting.Sit with them, wait for them to calm down at their own pace and reassure them. If they have Anorexia, don't tell them to just eat some food. Help them get help from experts, tell them they're beautiful just the way they are and that they don't need to change. Be there by their side. Encourage them. Change you're perspective. Have some empathy and look at it from their stand point. Don't try to solve their problem for them.

This just helped me realize that I'm not alone with my PMDD disorder. It has caused me to loose so many good people and now i know I'm not alone. 🗣️❤🙏 THANK YOU!

Thank you for making this video.It's so encouraging to see that we're getting closer to humanizing mental health conditions and I was so comforted by everybody's honesty in this video.

This is why it’s important to be honest about having anxiety and depression. So many people are quietly suffering because in the larger society those issues are brushed off and minimized. Sometimes my friends think I’m being dramatic when I say what really gives me anxiety and they make jokes about it but it’s literally the truth. I’ve be able to help people understand it more by being very honest and open though and I refuse to let anyone dismiss it because by me being open I want to make others feel more comfortable being open about it to.

The pain in Sheridan's voice was palpable & made my cry. I'm so glad she's being heard now & getting the help she deserves.

*people with disorders* “You just need to fight through it!” “It gets better!” “No crying! It will make you weak!” *me throws them across the room like a toothpick*

when i was 13 my mom and school counselors put me in therapy for cutting and not communicating and due to my mental illness and the reasons i would be cutting they would either tell me i was lying for whatever reason i gave them, and when i said i didn't remember they said i was lying. if no matter what i said was a lie then why was i even going? i got kicked out of therapy for 'shutting the therapist out'

Awww, I would so much like to hug Devin (and other lovely ladies too!). I also had a depression and an eating disorder ad the result. Weighted 44 kg and couldn't eat a single thing, I just had zero appetite. I had to literally make a conscious effort not to die, because my body was telling me it doesn't want to live. And no, not many people understand, especially in certain societies. I then realised I have had a depression developing for a while, but my concerns were dismissed because "this is just a phase", "it's normal for a teenager", "just don't be sad, what's your problem", "you're a poser" etc. No, it doesn't work this way. If you are feeling bad, don't be ashamed and seek for help until you find it! You deserve a better life!

I have depression, anxiety, and panic attacks

The thing that is horrible is 13 year olds self diagnosing themselves and not understanding what depression is. They assume it's just being sad, but it's so much more and requires a medical diagnosis

It's so important to talk about this! Thank you for this video. 🙏🏻

I have social anxiety and my parents don't believe me. They think I'm overreacting. I'm just "shy" or "introverted". It's emotionally draining when my mom laughs if I bring it up. I crinkle into this shrivelled raisin and die a little inside. My dad yells at me and makes me cry in public when I can't order my own food. My mom pushes me to talk to her about my problems and I just can't do it. Because I know they wouldn't care, or let alone believe me

I suffer from OCD, Dermatillomania, Depression and social anxiety. I broke down when I heard the words " I believe you" at the end. I wish I could hear that from someone in my life... just one person.

Wow. This is really raw. So proud of these ladies to talk and share with us✨✨

This hit me so hard. I was literally crying for an hour..Thank you so much...

Nobody believes me when i say I have anxiety and I never say I have depression cause I know people would treat me completely different EDIT The thing is that if you saw me I dont look like I have anything wrong with my mental state but dont judge a book by its cover

I have bad anxiety as a 13 year old. I told my mom about my breakdowns at school about simple things like science labs. She told me that "you don't need pills just because You think you need to control everything". Slowly, but surely, I am learning to control my panic attacks. Anxiety is a very real disorder. I am sleep deprived always. Don't ever tell people it's not real.

I really needed this. I have been struggling for so long and this was what I needed to hear that its okay to get help

Thank you for making this video. I’m very encouraged.

I'm bipolar. I've been diagnosed since I was 15, and I'm almost 20 now. Right before I was diagnosed, family and people didn't believe me before the police arrested me for ''suicidal behavior'', because I was about to jump off a bridge. People associated bipolar with ''being really ecstatic and then depressed for a few days'', but I would literally scream and cry whenever I was manic. Although I've passed that ''people don't believe me'', I'm still glad.

I have extreme anxiety, it’s the worst. When I was 9 years old, every single day going to school, I would have an anxiety attack. People would never believe me. I was shaking and breathing heavily. Sometimes the teachers had to drag me in to school because I just refused to go in. People usually described me as bubbly and humorous, but during school I just had my head on my desk. I never knew what to do in lessons because I wasn’t listening. It was as if I completely blacked out. By the time I got home, I sat down, crying. I still have anxiety attacks and they make me feel as if I want to crawl up in the corner of the room in a ball and die. So one day, my mum sat me down and said to me “why are you crying everyday when you go to school?” I said back to her that I was nervous, she asked why, and I said “I don’t know” What my anxiety did to me made me stronger as a person. I went on a school trip, and I wanted to go on a ride, and I did. I said to myself “you can do this” and I did. The fear of doing things and getting anxiety attacks, was what was giving me anxiety. If you have anxiety, all I can say is to believe in yourself, and just not be scared at all. I am very thankful for my family, friends, and teachers who pulled me through this horrible time. Still do this day, I do have anxiety and still have anxiety attacks, but they aren’t half as bad, and I know what to do about them. Stay strong everyone. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

I make a lot of jokes and laugh a lot. I have PMDD and depression. I was so depressed around a year ago. I was clean of anxiety waves for about 3 months until they came back. I now take birth control at the age of 16 to regulate my hormones. I still get depressed and sad but now ik who to talk to and how to get a grasp on it. They say the funniest people are the saddest...yep that’s me

Thank you for this video, it's comforting in some ways for someone who is struggling too

I'm 14 and I live in Africa, where most mental health issues are said to be caused by black magic or demons and It really feels Like there is no hope for me and I feel really lost. I attempted Suicide a few months ago, my mom found me In my room and she bean splashing me with holy water, I didn't get medical help, or help from a therapist, not even an are you okay from my family, I was simply Just blown off. And It really hurts when you feel alone and like no one understands, Its hopeless. And there's nowhere I can get help here. I'm basically stuck. But this video made me feel like I wasn't so alone Thank you.

Can we just say he seems like the best boyfriend ever

Thank you for this! "the key to healing is taking away the shame"

Well done ladies - thank you for your honest and your candour. I hope that you continue on your path of mental health and healing. You are all warriors and paving the way for others!

One of the weirdest thing though, is not believing yourself. I knew in my heart that throwing up after most meals is bulimia, that writing down each calorie you take in is not healthy, and that I was technically underweight, but I didn't believe myself because I would think "I'm not skinny enough to have an eating disorder." Looking back at my recovery now, I think its so crazy how a mental disorder can distort your perception of yourself so much.

I have depression and anxiety too 😯 but i try to be strong 💪

Thank you, thank you, thank you for making this video. It’s hard enough to go through the battle of mental illness, but to not be believed, even by your family makes the battle even more heart wrenching. To anyone reading this, you’re not a failure for wanting/needing help, whether it be from a counselor, medication or both. They are tools! There is hope. It’s ok to seek help. It’s not a weakness, rather it’s a strength to recognize and acknowledge that you need help. Don’t ever give up! From a woman who has depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsion disorder, misophonia and PTSD.

And now I'm crying😭 Beautiful video!❤

I didn't know I had an eating disorder until a month ago. I'm fat ya know? I weigh over 200 lbs. I cut out food for the past two years I ate 800 calories or less a day. I kept gaining weight so I would eat less. 5 months ago. My hair started falling out. I went to the doctor said it was my thyroid. It was vitamins. Another doctor said I must be pulling my hair out myself and lying. When my coworker at my new job noticed me avoiding the food she would bring in she asked me why. I lied and said I was allergic. About three weeks of that she shut off my computer and pulled me into the conference room. She was a personal trainer. She saw the signs. She asked me what I ate during the day and when I told her I apologized. I thought it was too much. Its disgusting to admit that you eat anything when you're fat. Let alone 800 calories worth. She told my boss. My boss asked me to go to the campus nutritionist. I started keeping a food diary. She checked it. A week in I was diagnosed with Anorexia. But I'm fat so I didn't think it was a bad thing. 25 days ago I collapsed. I was having a really bad body image day. I hadn't eaten. I was at the gym. Going hard. Things got blurry I ignired it. I chugged my water. I got dizzy. I pushed through. I thought I was only dizzy because I was fat and wasnt breathing right. I blacked out. I denied an ambulance ride because I knew I couldn't afford it. I sat in the locker room for a few moment's before driving myself home. I called my coworker. She and I have made a food plan. I get sick when I eat now. Half a cup of yogurt feels like 20 tons in my stomach. But after 23 days. My hair is falling out less in clumps. More in strands. I'm up to almost 1500 calories a day. Most of that is peanut butter. Its a start. But all of this could have been handled earlier if doctors had noticed the signs of my ED as an ED and not as anything else.

As a woman who has PMDD, I have to say that this is totally accurate. Before medication, I spent just a bit over two weeks every month hating life, and shifting between violent rages, to hysterical sobbing, to complete exhaustion and then over again. It's not as simple as mood swings, it is a layered and frankly scary cycle.

This is so needed and thank you for bravely sharing your stories and paving the way in the future ❤️

Thank you ladies for your openness and understanding. It really does feel good to open up to anyone. I have had anxiety since I was a little girl and it has gotten worse over the years. It also feels really good when you know that there are others like you out there.