Don't Be a Know it All

To those who think depression is just being sad and you can snap yourself out of it, you have never had clinical depression, and you don't know what it is like.
Very good thing, but it is hardly helpful to get mad at someone who does.
They cannot help it.
Would you tell someone with chest pains now, buck up and not have a heart attack, loser? Would you visit them at the hospital and tell them it's their fault and they should just think positively so they don't have stress and won't have another episode?
Would you tell them all about your hobbies and how they should do the same to avoid another heart attack?
Because, frankly, it is just as ridiculous to say this to a clinically depressed person.

Any unhelpful or unkind remarks will be removed.

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OlderSometimesWiser · F

I can totally relate to this Rae. For me, having to deal with the illness itself and on top of that have people blame you for it, including loved ones, is devastating. Adds a thick layer of shame atop the suffering.

I’ll never forget sitting at the holiday table and my niece (about 10 at the time) saying to me, “God helps those who help themselves.” I knew damn well that idea, in reference to me, wasn’t formulated by her at that age. The shame I felt made it even harder to be around my family ever since.

45 years of fighting this illness and I’m just so very tired……

Justmeraeagain · 56-60, F

@OlderSometimesWiser I have anxiety as well and I really believe that the depression comes from getting so very tired of fighting with my mind.
I almost think people that are close to me are the worst at empathizing

Penny · 46-50, F

i was really depressed as a teen and into my twenties/ early thirties. it was due to unresolved trauma. they are saying now that they were wrong about brain chemistry causing depression. not saying depression isnt real but theyre just saying new findings are calling bs on treating "chemical imbalances". starting smoking pot helped me a lot as a teen, and i think getting and learning reiki healed it for the most part. (as well as remembering traumatic events that i had repressed/blocked and working through them) journaling helped with that like writing my autobiography. (which i have since burned lol)

Justmeraeagain · 56-60, F

@Penny I took that part out as it seems you have science backing that up when I was diagnosed, science backed up chemical imbalance as the main cause.
Whatever the cause is, it is still stupid to assume people can just make themselves better.

Penny · 46-50, F

@Justmeraeagain yeah, thats what the article i read said. apparently its not so simple as that. they didnt say they found anything new as to why though. still depression can get really bad. in some cases people just have negative attitudes but thats not always the case. it could be vitamin deficiencies too besides things like emotional trauma or mental stress or something. no one likes to deal with mental illness. this i know from personal experience lol. besides like people who deal with it for work. psychiatrists and psychologists can only practice what they learn too. i also read that theres a link between serotonin and the gut. so paying attention to your gut health might help make a difference somehow. idk just repeating what i read. hope you feel better soon.

Floki

Man that sucks.

SW-User

I have depression, clinical in fact. I have been prescribed medication and it seems to help but it doesn't fix it permanently
it only alters brain chemicals called neurotransmitters to alter mood. Depression is not a weakness it is only a chemical imbalance. So, you just can't snap out of it. Uneducated people say that so they need to research it and truly learn what it is before they pass judgement

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