AITA for being honest with potential friends about my self depreciating and depressing thoughts

NAH - You coping mechanisms does not make you an asshole.

But there are some things you may need to know. One of the most wonderful things about us humans is our ability to grow together, to share pain and happiness, to be there for eachother. We are pack-animals, and lack of contact with others will make us depressed..

But it is also important to give. To be a good friend that makes others feel better. I refuse to belive that everything about you is depression. It may feel like it (I've struggled with it too for many years). But somtimes we can get so wrapped up in it that we cannot offer much else than pain, since that is what we need to talk about.

And then you need professional help. We have this ideal in society that our friends and loved ones should help us when we suffer, and while this is true, many of the people around us do not have thje strength to deal with mental illness. It sounds like you really need to talk about and process your depression. You must do this with a doctor, a therapist or someone else. I wouldn't expect my friends to deal with my broken bone, and if my broken bone was the only thing I'd talk about, I think my friends would get tired really quickly.

I don't think that anyone is an asshole here. But if all you offer up to friends is depression, you can't be surprised that they don't want to hang out with you. And just to say it again and recap:

- Nobody wants to be friends with someone who makes everything about their illness (I wouldn't).
- If you feel that all you want to (or need to) talk about it your illness, talk toa doctor about it.
- If you get some of it out of your system, you will have more to offer for friendship
- This does not make you or anyone else an asshole.

/r/AmItheAsshole Thread