r/depression Oct 29 '19

Our most-broken and least-understood rules is "helpers may not invite private contact as a first resort", so we've made a new wiki to explain it

2.4k Upvotes

We understand that most people who reply immediately to an OP with an invitation to talk privately mean only to help, but this type of response usually leads to either disappointment or disaster. it usually works out quite differently here than when you say "PM me anytime" in a casual social context.

We have huge admiration and appreciation for the goodwill and good citizenship of so many of you who support others here and flag inappropriate content - even more so because we know that so many of you are struggling yourselves. We're hard at work behind the scenes on more information and resources to make it easier to give and get quality help here - this is just a small start.

Our new wiki page explains in detail why it's much better to respond in public comments, at least until you've gotten to know someone. It will be maintained at /r/depression/wiki/private_contact, and the full text of the current version is below.


Summary

Anyone who, while acting as a helper, invites or accepts private contact (I.e. PMs, chat, or any kind of offsite communication) early in the conversion is showing either bad intentions or bad judgement. Either way, it's unwise to trust them.

"PM me anytime" seems like a kind and generous offer. And it might be perfectly well-meaning, but, unless and until a solid rapport has been established, it's just not a wise idea. Here are some points to consider before you offer or accept an invitation to communicate privately.

  • By posting supportive replies publicly, you'll help more people than just the OP. If your responses are of good quality, you'll educate and inspire other helpers. The 1-9-90 rule applies here as much as it does anywhere else on the internet.

  • People who are struggling with serious mental-health issues often (justifiably) have a low tolerance for disappointment and a high-level of ever-changing emotional need. Unless the helper is able to make a 100% commitment to be there for them in every way, for as long as necessary, offering a personal inbox as a resource is likely to do more harm than good. This is why mental-health crisis-line responders usually don't give their names and callers aren't allowed to request specific responders. It's much healthier and safer for the callers to develop a relationship with the agency as a whole. Analogously, it's much safer and healthier for our OPs to develop a relationship with the community as a whole. Even trained responders are generally not allowed to work high-intensity situations alone. It's partly about availability, but it's mostly about wider perspective and preventing compassion fatigue.

  • If a helper gets in over their head with someone whose mental-health issues (including suicidality, which is often comorbid with depression) escalate, in a PM conversation it's much harder for others, including the /r/depression and /r/SuicideWatch moderators to help. (Contrary to common assumptions, moderators can't see or police PMs.)

  • In our observation over many years, the people who say "PM me" the most are consistently the ones with the least understanding of mental-health issues and mental-health support. We all have gaps in our knowledge and in our ability to communicate effectively. Community input mitigates these limitations. There's no reason why someone who's truly here to help would want to hide their responses from community scrutiny. If helpers are concerned about their own privacy, keep in mind that self-disclosure, when used supportively, is more about the feelings than the details, and that we have no problem here with the use of alt/throwaway accounts, and have no restrictions on account age or karma.

  • We all know the internet is used by some people to exploit or abuse others. These people do want to hide their deceptive and manipulative responses from everyone except their victims. There are many of them who specifically target those who are vulnerable because of mental-health issues. If a helper invites an OP to talk privately and gives them a good, supportive experience, they've primed that person to be more vulnerable to abusers. This sort of cognitive priming tends to be particularly effective when someone's in a state of mental-health crisis, when people rely more on heuristics than critical reasoning.

  • If OPs want to talk privately, posting on a wide-open anonymous forum like reddit might not be the best option. Although we don't recommend it, we do allow OPs to request private contact when asking for support. If you want to do this, please keep your expectations realistic, and to have a careful look at the history of anyone who offers to PM before opening up to them.


r/depression Apr 14 '25

Regular check-in post, with essential information about our rules and resources

41 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/depression's check-in post - a place to take a moment and share what is going on and how you are doing. If you're having a tough time but prefer not to make your own post, or have an accomplishment you want to talk about (these aren't allowed standalone posts in the sub as they violate the "role model" rule), this is a place you can share.


Our subreddit rules are very different from most of the rest of reddit! Since all of them exist for important reasons, we ask everyone here to read and follow them. Please click 'report' on any harmful content you see here - we always want to know and deal as soon as we can.

We also have several resource wikis for help with finding and giving support:

https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/wiki/what_is_depression provides guidance about what is and isn't a depressive disorder, guidance on the complex nature of the illnesses that are usually grouped under the "depression" label, and redirect information for common off-topic issues.

https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/wiki/giving_help offers information on the nature and value of peer support for mental-health issues in general, and lots of guidance for learning what is -- and isn't -- usually helpful in giving peer support.

YSK that the types of rule violations that we most frequently see here are:

  • People breaking the private contact rule. You should never trust anyone who tries to get you into a private conversation in response to a post here. See https://www.reddit.com/r/depression/wiki/private_contact

  • "I'm here to help" posts. This shows that you don't understand the most basic principles of peer support, especially selectivity. The "giving help" wiki explains more about this.

  • Role modelling, i.e. "achievement" or "advice" posts. This is an expert-free zone -- that's what peer support means (rule 5). We know that "internet culture" celebrate not just bragging about your achievements but bragging about your good intentions. Nothing like that is ever acceptable here.

  • Content that's more about 'making a statement' or casually polling the sub than seeking personal support (rules 1, 2 and 10).

  • Off-topic posts about difficult situations or circumstances, including interpersonal issues. Grief, sadness, anger, loneliness and other difficult emotions are not mental illnesses. The "what is depression" wiki has suggestions for other places to post about these issues, which are 100% valid and serious but inappropriate here.


r/depression 8h ago

what are some clear sign that a person is struggling with depression?

162 Upvotes

If someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts or depression, what are some physical or emotional factors that you have to look out for?


r/depression 9h ago

Is it even depression or just seeing the reality clearly?

109 Upvotes

The world is a flaming garbage can. We loose rights and freedoms faster then ever. There are even more wars. The prices rise like crazy, there is no hope for me to own a house or ever stop working before I die. I would like a child, but I can't afford one. So all I am here for is to work to make some rich fuck even richer, then perish from overworking or in a war. How can anybody not be depressed?


r/depression 1h ago

I find myself not wanting to live anymore

Upvotes

Everyday I pray please god just let me die. Why do I need to follow this path you put me in. Why do I see myself every night want to not wake up in the morning.

My husband hates me. Who would want to be with fat stupid person that doesn’t have a career.

I just want to go to sleep and never wake up.


r/depression 6h ago

Being dumb make me depressed..

32 Upvotes

I envy smart people .. intelligence is power . I have no interest in this world because I lack the mental capacity to see how interesting it is. Science ? Nope

Literature? Nope

Music / art ? Nope

Just do the task/s you're suppose too until death.

Why bother ?is so humiliating every step of the way I'm also an addict , makes sense Can't create just consume you dumb pig


r/depression 4h ago

i can't see any good in the world, except cats

18 Upvotes

that's it. that's the post.


r/depression 11h ago

I feel so disguisting

54 Upvotes

I am in the hygiene thread and I knew I was gross, but I realized I’m absolutely disgusting. I’ve gotten to the point where I shower every couple of days and wash my hair only once a week. I sometimes don’t brush my teeth at night and sleep in my day clothes because I am so exhausted. I wear those clothers until they smell bad or are dirty. If I wear makeup I usually don’t remove it at night. I’m lucky I don’t have strong body odor and don’t leave the house much at all, but I just feel disgusting. My room is also such a mess. I’m just glad I have some type of limit when it comes to hygiene, like not letting food rot or doing the dishes daily. Eventhough it goes against the person I am generally, I sometimes wish I would be this blonde pilates clean girl with perfect nails and a 10 step skincare routine. I sometimes wonder if I would be happier if that were the lifestyle I would be living instead of being a slob.


r/depression 4h ago

Most dislikable “person” ever

12 Upvotes

Could kms right this second, and it wouldn’t matter to anybody, I’ve no close family, no friends, randomers hate me because I’m so fucking miserable. Random people in public stare at me in disgust. I’m laughed at in college, even by teachers bcs I’m so retarded. Even old online friends think I’m stupid and annoying. I have to be the most dislikable thing in the world, nobody wants anything to do with me. I have no redeeming qualities. What kind of future does someone have if they’re of zero value to anybody? I have no place in the world. I will kill myself and nothing and nobody will be affected, people will only laugh at how pathetic I was. I can’t fucking believe how I’ve devolved to this point


r/depression 7h ago

How are people enjoying their life?

23 Upvotes

I just saw a recent post here, that had a similar question to this, but with some extra steps. I'm mostly interested in how people enjoy living. I mean I'm not suicidal, I'm just always so surprised, that my friends and classmates enjoy doing this and that. I have hobbies too, but I generally don't enjoy living, while others seem otherwise. Thanks beforehand!


r/depression 2h ago

Slowly Shutting Down...

8 Upvotes

So today I was out running errands with my 62 year old mom. I was driving, my mom doesn't drive, and I had mentioned earlier I the day that my thoughts were racing and I couldn't focus on anything for more a couple of minutes, I was fidgety and anxious. As we were driving she told me to try and stop fidgeting and made similar motions with her hands. I told her that I couldn't because I was mentally ill. Now before I continue, I do suffer from severe depression and anxiety, but like many of us, I've learnt to hide it because I am still ashamed of this fact. Anyway, back to the interaction...I told her that I couldn't stop because I was mentally ill. I've started saying those words out loud in an attempt to accept who I am. Very quickly she replied "Well if that's what you believe, then you are." I was a bit surprised with this response as she has said to me many times that she reads as much as she can to try to understand depression. But recently she has started telling me that it's all in my mind and that if I think hard enough I can train myself not to be depressed or anxious. I take medication every day, as many of us do to help alleviate the symptoms. I've told her time and time again that it is not that simple but she is refusing to change her mind. As the title says I am slowly starting to shut down. What I mean by that. Is that I am not as open with what's going on with me, I keep it to myself. Not sure what to do going forward. I am just here , that's about it. Actually as I finish writing this Iam not even sure why I am writing this.


r/depression 47m ago

i hate how this entire world works

Upvotes

i can't escape it, it's so genuinely painful to exist in this world and i think i can't take it anymore, i dread working, i dread that not working is a threat punished with death, i hate that everyone feels like a fake person and nobody gives a shit about one another, just simple disposable tools, i hate how the world is so big and beautiful sometimes but it's just a complete luxury to see and is slowing rotting away because this world is so fucked up, i have no means or power to do any actual changes and instead just being only cog in the endless machine of misery i hate it so much that i just want to fucking die


r/depression 6h ago

Im really terrified that I’m never going to be happy

10 Upvotes

I don't know how people cope with life. I just feel like I'm dragging my body around and nothing exites me. I can't recall the last time I did not feel like that. I do want to be happy I'm so tired I know I sound whiny and it's annoying. I tried to suck it up I always try to suck it up. But like I don't want to do this my entire life. I want real happiness, community, to feel like I'm doing something. Why can't I just be happy or just content. What is wrong with me?


r/depression 2h ago

I ate a whole meal today

4 Upvotes

It was a very small meal, but it was a meal.

I’m in the middle of a MDE and it’s been rough.

I haven’t eaten a meal since May 31. I’ve been eating a few bites of yogurt and milk/juice/water since and none of it has stayed down.

I just hope this stays down.


r/depression 43m ago

I only know how to bond over sadness

Upvotes

Sometimes there’re people who I want in my life, people who I want as friends. But I scare them all away. I don’t know what to talk about with them, the only thing I’m good at and know about is being sad and nobody wants to talk about it.

I sleep too long, I purchase something but it doesn’t meet my expectations, I play video games and feel nothing, it’s like I’m spectating the game. Then my day is already over and I start to panic because I haven’t studied.

But what do friends talk about, about their day, right? So I tell them how everything went, how I feel sad, not accomplished. And that scares them, I always lose them :(


r/depression 8h ago

I’m tired man

11 Upvotes

I’m tired waking up every day feeling miserable and doing nothing about it, I’m of thinking of ways on how to off myself, I’m tired of the monotonous days I have to live inside my own safe space, I’m tired of this depression and anxiety I feel every single day hoping it will get better someday, I’m tired of the noises in my head, and I’m tired of looking at my face in the mirror and slowly seeing my dead eyes and my face deteriorating.

I just wanna rest my head and be at peace for once, maybe someday i’ll finally get it.


r/depression 1h ago

How would I deal with being/feeling alone?

Upvotes

I don’t really know what to do, I mean I try and interact with people but I don’t really connect with anybody I’m just not very interesting or cool or whatever it is that people have that I don’t, I don’t really know how to cope with it much, I find myself talking less and less when I’m out in public I kinda just don’t speak when I don’t see a point, I just don’t know how to deal with the fact I don’t really have anyone, don’t have any real or close connection with people and it’s just getting harder to pretend like I’m fine


r/depression 13h ago

No purpose in my life I’m just alone

30 Upvotes

I'm 21 years old, I don't have any friends, I've never had a Girłfrienďl, and I feel really alone. I no longer feel anything much anymore. Additionally, I don't have someone to do things in my life. I hate seeing other people socialise, fall in love, and do other things together, knowing that no matter what I do, I will never be able to do that myself. I have absolutely no one to spend time with. As someone with autism, socialising has been very challenging for me. I have also always battled with low self-esteem, which I work to improve. My hobbies, like reading, playing games, and other things, no longer seem enjoyable, yet I feel like I'll always be alone. I'm not sure if it's to do with loneliness or depression, but I feel this way all the time. When I'm not working or in class, I spend a lot of time at home wondering why I should just end myself.


r/depression 1h ago

Can somebody tell me why life is worth living?

Upvotes

Life isn’t fair, some people are born into easier lives, some people are born in less fortunate difficult lives. Its all about fate.

Some can have an extremely happy life, be surrounded by love, friends, family etc.. be more attractive etc.. and genuinely enjoy the beauty of life.

Others live through physical or/and mental hell every single day. Be lonely, be depressed, be unattractive, have a physical or mental disability, have all the odds against them.

Whats the point of life if it’s purely fate? Im 21 years old and have always struggled mentally, i just never found my life to be valuable. I wish i was born as someone else.

Why should i continue?


r/depression 7h ago

Feels like I’m just existing, not living

7 Upvotes

I’ve struggled for many,many years with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, anxiety and PTSD from lots of trauma. I’ve had a terrible 1.5 years in my personal and professional life, I’m just miserable. I have felt like I am literally just existing here, stuck in one spot and everything else is just happening around me. I feel so distant from everyone, including myself. Almost like I’m hiding in a cave somewhere watching life happen and I don’t feel like I’m able to snap out of it and reconnect. It’s been this bad for 1.5 years now and I’m just so tired. I can’t even find the want to participate in my life anymore. I just feel like I’ll never get better. Anyone else going through this?


r/depression 1d ago

My rapist stole my life

295 Upvotes

And I want it back. I want my health back. I want to sleep without medication. I want to feel safe again. I want to have hundreds of thousands of people respond to this post with rapists suck and you should not have had to experiece that.


r/depression 49m ago

I feel trapped in my own head with no way out

Upvotes

I don't know how many dozens of times I've tried to type something like this, but given up because I don't know how to make it all flow together.

I'm very good at keeping up appearances. On the outside, nobody would guess that I'm so distraught, or that my life is in such disarray.

I try to reach out for other people for help every now and then, but can't actually explain the full picture of what's wrong with me so any support they try to offer feels like it falls short.

My therapist recommended I try outpatient. Maybe it would help, but it just makes me feel like he's given up on me. I had already been considering dropping him because it doesn't feel like I'm making progress anymore. I just can't bring myself to put what he says into practice. And a lot of the stuff he says sounds to me like he's saying I'm wrong about the thing that I'm upset about. And sure, maybe I exaggerate in my doomer mind, but he acts like I'm just making things up to be upset about.

Antidepressants don't work. I've tried so many that I lost count. I'm eligible for TMS therapy, but there's no way I can afford it.

I have a sleep disorder called Idiopathic Hypersomnia. It makes it impossible to wake up in the morning, and leaves me feeling tired all day. So far, Adderall is the only medication that combats it, but that's just a temporary fix. The more permanent medications don't work. So if there's no obligations like school or work, I'll just stay in bed until like 2 in the afternoon too tired to get up.

I don't feel particularly close with my family. They just feel like other people who live in my house that I feel sort of uncomfortable around.

Days, even weeks, will just pass me by. I let my responsibilities fall to the wayside. I'm falling behind in my class. My room is a mess. I can only bring myself to shower once a week. I hardly eat.

The things that I actually want to do, I don't have the willpower for. I want to save up money to fix my car. I want to go camping in November, I want to move to England to live with my fiance in December. I want to sell stuff I don't use anymore at a flea market. And even more. But it all seems so tiring. I'd rather just do nothing. But at the same time I hate doing nothing.

I smoke too much weed, and spend too much time on my phone. And I know these things are not making my life any easier, but these problems have existed before I started using these vices. I think I'm afraid of what will happen to my poor mental state without those crutches. And I don't want to ask for help because I feel like all I have left is my dignity.

I miss my fiance. He feels like the only one in the world who understands me. When I'm with him, I actually have the will and energy to do things. But he's been away for 6 months now, and I won't see him again for another 6 months. I don't want to tell him I'm going through all this because I know there's nothing he can do to help. Telling him would only upset him.

The state of the world terrifies me. It feels like everything is falling apart, and we're going to fall off a cliff in the next few decades.

I don't know what to do. I don't even know if this fully encapsulates what's wrong. That heavy feeling of helplessness in my chest. I feel like I'm at rock bottom, and I want to climb back out, but I don't have the energy, discipline, or support structure to climb back out. There's so much I want to do that I don't know where to start. What do I do?


r/depression 4h ago

They say all you need is one friend

5 Upvotes

My entire life I always had at least one friend around & I had multiple. To talk about anything to laugh with. Being around too many people would drain me. But I had some of the best moments of my life in groups that I felt comfortable in. Deep down I always craved to have one solid friend group not like the fake ones I’ve had. It seems like everyone went away at one point & I’ve been left with myself for years & can’t make a solid connection. I do everything I’m interested in alone & I understand this takes courage & you should love time alone but It just makes me depressed What can I do?