Mental illness like Depression is treatable why are so many ashamed to get help?

Over the years I've heard people say Snap out of it. Depression is a medical mental illness that can be treated and prevented with medication and or therapy (or both). I think their are millions of people suffering from Mild Depression to Bipolar disorder also known as Manic Depression. Don't be ashamed and seek help. I couldn't figure out what was bothering me until I started doing some research on the internet. The National Institute of Mental Health gave me a lot of valuable information. I'm feeling better these days because I'm on medication and I'm in therapy. Don't struggle in silence. We all deserve to live a happy healthy life. Seek help because this mental illness will not go away if you just ignore it.
I also found out that mental illness runs in my family. My little sister has been suffering since she was around 12 yrs old and she's now 35 yrs old. She was diagnosed in college. The medication balanced her moods and her manic episodes. Look for the sign and symptoms,...

That was a great article that you posted about yourself. It is so true that their is a stigma attached to Depression and other mental illnesses. I suffered from depression all through my childhood and into my adult life. I managed to survive and be successful. (I also heard "snap out of it", "you'll get over it", "stop the pity party" etc. I went through many years of keeping my feelings to myself and plodding along with that monkey on my back. I finally hit rock bottom and ended up hospitalized. While it was frightening it was the best thing that ever happened to me as they put me on medication (SSRI) and after a few months I bounced back better than I had ever been in my life. If you go to Miami New Times on the web and search under "The Last Temptation of George Petrie" you will see the story of my downward spiral due to untreated depression. You are so right....it will not go away if you just ignore it....it will devour you. Thanks for your comments.

Many people who have depression have tried medication and therapy. Lots of these people who suffer feel as if nothing helps so they stop seeking treatment, which can lead to devastating effects. Some are embarrassed but eventually will have an episode where they are forced to seek treatment. Others feel as if they have no insurance and do not want to go to a clinic for they feel that is beneath their standards. It is very sad for depression can rob a person of so many things. Thank you for submitting this question so others may have a chance to seek help. take care.
Many people do not think they have problems, or even will refuse that they will.

And then people like me hate going to those doctors. They are superficial and completely useless. So why go when all it does is waste gas, money, and time?
My brother refuses to get help and I don't know why. After this long of a time, I'm beginning to think he likes the total lack of responsibility he has by being "depressed." I don't mean to say that other people feel this way, but my brother will stay in bed 1/2 the day or all day, cry, mope around, say he's so so depressed, and yet when we offer to take him to a doctor, he refuses. He refuses to get therapy. He refuses to see any doctor. He refuses to consider medication. He refuses to do what you do and that's look for answers. He refuses to eat right.

I don't know why he's more ashamed to get help than he is to live unemployed, stealing from my mom for cash.
It's not that people are ashamed I just think it has to get to a point where it really interferes with a person's life. I didn't seek help until my friend suggested that I had changed and had been acting strange for about three years. Therapy can be good for you as it helps you to think about your moods and what triggers your episodes. However, I refuse to take any medication. I was first diagnosed with having Depression then with being Bipolar.

People have to be willing to admit that there is a problem. Sort of like admitting alcoholism or being addicted to drugs.
Life
I can't help but agree with devinthedragon.

I was prescribed Zoloft by a general practitioner, which then made me have extreme thoughts of suicide. The weird part was, I didn't want to kill myself, and I never did before that point either. The thoughts would just plague me and it freaked me right out. I seriously thought I was going to end up killing myself. Thankfully, my husband brought me to the hospital and they admitted me for several days until I rode out the medication. I can still remember closing my eyes and seeing demons and feeling the deep despair. It felt so hopeless, the only way I could describe it was "I can't feel God's presence".

The problem is this: all these medications are not perfect. People know this. Especially with the new black box warnings on antidepressants.

When most doctors want to just shove a prescription down your throat, and there's a possible risk of getting worse and killing yourself, I guess I don't blame people for not seeking help.

So whats the solution? See a specialist, like a psychiatrist. What does that mean? Endless endless dicking around by insurance companies.

This all happened to me back in February and I'm still trying to get my insurance to pay for it.

You mentioned that "depression is a medical mental illness.." then why does my insurance company have a seperate company handle mental health? Am I not one body?

There needs to be more love, understanding and acceptance of people experiencing mental disorders, and until insurance companies stop seperating it from "normal medicine" then most people won't stop seperating it either.