Parents believe I can be "fixed"

[ghostunderthelight]

I've felt depressed most of my life, and received a formal diagnosis four years ago, the same as my brother.
My mother continues to say that it's just a "chemical imbalance" and "all you need to do is get sunshine and exercise". She is also a Christian, and while I was raised that way I have strayed from the ideology. She continues to harp on about how "God created me" and that I am "loved".
My father is less annoying but he's a pushover and just parrots what my mother says. It's exhausting, listening to them continue to tell me to just go outside to fix all of my problems.
They're unaware that I have issues with eating, and that I go outside only at my lowest, to exercise to burn off what little I ate that day.
Does anyone else have parents like this? Or relatives, friends, etc?

 

[AnestheticVoid]

God didn't create you. Your mom had sexual intercourse with your father and a decision was made to allow you to be born. Saying it was God is a cop out. Everyone who exists were born out of selfishness I believe. Misery loves company.

Your mom is probably a nice woman who loves you I don't mean to be rude.

 

[Pubert]

Your parents may care, maybe even a lot, but they likely just don't have the skills or experience to be of help to you. Exercise and sun is obviously helpful (not life changing; it helps a little), but you seem like you want something more from your parents. My parents are exactly the same. When I first told my dad that i was having severe suicidal thoughts, he didn't know what to do. He took me out to get food and talk, but nothing he said felt helpful. On the way home he asked me if I wanted to go to the gun range sometime. (who tf asks their suicidal kid if they want to go shooting). I was left totally disgusted and hopeless with my father. If I hadn't been able to call my sister (who is a compassionate person) I might've tried to slit my arm open (I wouldn't do that now with the info I've gotten on SS). My mom is religious too and told me to "just stop being miserable, etc etc", "pray to God", but she doesn't know that I'm agnostic. I realized that she doesn't know how to properly help me but I can at least see that she deeply cares about me. Now I only depend on myself or try to get help from my therapist, who I know I can depend on for insights, but I'm still missing compassionate people in my life. Best wishes.

 

[Jacquelyn]

It just sounds like they don't understand how severe it is. Have you asked them about seeing a therapist or told them you're suicidal? (Assuming you're suicidal)
Doesn't matter who god created or if you're loved, plenty of "good christian folk" suffer from depression and commit suicide. You mother needs to understand that.

 

[Ticket 2 Heaven]

My mom says the same things. Wjy did god make me diseased and ugly? I hate my life. I just want to die and go to heaven with a new body.

 

[Al Cappella]

I had parents exactly like that--and they also helpfully added "Why can't you be like your brother and sister?" As though I hadn't thought of that myself. You--no one can--can't be fixed, but you can be accepted and cherished for who you are, as you are. It is possible. In most cases, sadly, that will never come from the parents, or friends, even. They don't have the language, so we almost have to teach them. Mine never managed it.

 

[Cosmic dust]

I don't even trust my parents enough to talk with them about sadness and suicide. For one, they don't know how to keep secrets and would just babble to everyone about my personal life and things that they don't understand, they are also religious and would provide advice similar to OP's mom.

I am not sure if they don't notice that I am like this or if they only pretend to not notice, I mostly only go out to work (I have a job).

Even when I was a kid, they always avoided talking to me or my sister about anything emotional, because they don't know how to handle it. Guess its easier to pray and pretend that things are going to be alright than to provide support to your kids.

 

[Fadeawaaaay]

It's possible they're doing the best they can with their limited abilities and perspective. We want our parents to save us. Sometimes our circumstances are beyond their help. Or anybody's help.

 

[OldDrummer]

Was raised Irish Catholic. Saw the complete nonsense of it at 12 years of age.

Your parent(s) are doing the best they can given their limited experience and exposure to pain.

Just know that you're among friends here. That's all.