Do you find it challenging to socialize while feeling depressed? Do you ever worry that someone will judge you for it if they find out?
You will love this blog post if you answer yes to either of these questions.

In this post, I’ll share four techniques I’ve used and continue to use when I’m in social situations while depressed. As I started to use the tools, I could feel that my depression was getting better and that my social mojo was coming back.

How to be social when you have depression

It was challenging to pay attention to what was happening around me. I had to work hard to stay present and not feel overwhelmed by my depression. With the help of my therapist, my awareness of my behavior in social situations expanded. I made a point of not taking the lead in conversations and limiting the number of questions I asked. As a result, I could be social even when going through a depressive funk.

When you’re chatting with someone, it’s important to remind yourself to keep eye contact. Maintaining eye contact with the person you’re talking to is a subtle way to connect with them and can help you stay in the present.

I’ve never had trouble getting a conversation started. I am a pretty outgoing and friendly person. But I could only be that way when I wasn’t depressed. When I was sad, I turned into Debbie Downer, never able to see the sun between the clouds.

I realized my sense of reality shifted when a friend asked me how I was. Still, I needed help distinguishing whether she was sincerely interested or just looking for a quick chat. Either way, I always felt like I’d said too much.

It’s hard to explain how simple things like loading the dishwasher, doing laundry, brushing teeth, or just getting out of bed are almost impossible.

Sandy I., LTH creations

No one I told seemed to understand. I could tell by the looks on their faces and their body language that they had no idea what it was like to be in that much pain.

My children were in elementary school when I struggled with my depression. Because I was doing the whole parent thing, I couldn’t avoid meeting and talking to others. I could no longer dodge my neighbors, new friends, and acquaintances at any time.

I began to keep track of topics I could speak about without crying and those I couldn’t.

Or example, the ones I could speak about are:

• The spiders in my garage that I swear have been out to get me. 
• My kid’s addiction to Fortnite and the hope that he won’t need Fortnite Anonymous when he gets older,
• I’ve only made meals I know my kids will eat. 

Conversation Starters for Any Situation

I started to feel envious of everyone I chatted with. There was no way I could share how I struggled with being unable to put the dishes in the dishwasher, finish a cycle of washing, or even brush my teeth.
I didn’t think anyone could understand.
As a result, my ability to “read the room” was horrible. I couldn’t distinguish the reasoning behind a friend asking me how I was doing. Were they asking because they so desperately wanted to know? Or are you looking for a quick chat? Either way, I always left the conversation feeling like I shared too much and was embarrassed by my awkwardness.

Tip #4 Have a go-to answer when somebody asks, “How are you?”

Make sure you have a few different answers when someone asks you, “How are you?” I was successful right away. When I used this tool, I felt better about my depression. When asked, “How’s it going?” All I say is, “I keep on, keeping on,” “same old, same old,” or “it’s all good.” So far, it’s been successful.

Learning how to be social when suffering from depression was a game changer.

As I used these tools, I felt the weight of my depression lift and started to feel more like myself, and I began to regain my social mojo.

Sandy I., LTH creations

In the United States, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental illnesses. While they are frequently confused, the two disorders are not the same. Depression is a medical illness, while anxiety is a mental illness that often has physical symptoms. To lessen the severity of these disorders, a person needs to learn how to deal with them.

Conclusion

I wonder if the depression I’ve gone through might have been less painful if I had known “to be mindful.” “Be careful not to over-share,” and “have an answer ready when somebody asks you, “How are you doing?” Then I remind myself that I wouldn’t be able to write this if I didn’t go through that.

It’s been three and a half years since my last deep depression; a lot has changed. I no longer feel like my depression is dictating my life. Instead, I’m controlling it.

Please check out the post “Repeating this phrase can help alleviate depression.”