Now, I want to start by saying that my family already does know that I am depressed. However, I still don't really understand how telling people about it helps at all. "Emotional support" seems nearly worthless to me: I just don't understand how the sympathy and kind words of other people could do anything to aid in my sadness. My pain won't cease just from people saying that they care about me. I am grateful to have people who care about me, but if anything, it feels awful knowing that they worry about me when they can do nothing to help me.

TDLR: How is telling others about my depression supposed to help? I feel bad having people worry about my condition, and their kind words don't heal my wounds.