A little while ago, someone posted an experience about support (or lack thereof) with depression. I think the poster tried to tell their mom, and the response was something like “think more positively, you don’t have it bad at all,” etc. It occurs to me that other people, myself included, won’t tell family or friends about depression for fear of similar shit. Bottom line is, most people do not understand depression. Even a lot of depressed people are WTFing.
Even a lot of therapists, I’m told, have no idea what the hell to do. When it comes down to it, each one of us really is on is/her own.
In the words of Paramore:
Ain’t it fun living in the real world
Ain’t it good being all alone
Ain’t it good to be on your own
Ain’t it fun you can’t count on no one
With depression? Nope. None of that is fun.
An addendum: I’ve encountered people who try to “heal” depression with god. Oh, yeah, you’re depressed because you’re not a believer. If you don’t want to be depressed, then you won’t be.
LOL.
Proves my point, I think.
4 comments
You’re right that many therapists don’t have all the answers. My therapist is pretty honest with me when he consults with others for advice or strategy. As for the thought process, there is some credibility to the belief that your thoughts can affect your mood, depression, etc. If you Google things like “thought-stopping,” you’ll see information posted on sites like WebMD.
When people talk about depression and suicide I try and change the subject immediately so that they forget. So, they might say “I’m fucking depressed man” then you quickly change the subject by saying “err… it’s funny you should mention that because I’m opposed to fracking in the UK. Yeah, these Frackers think they can drill under our home and posion us with chemicals. Not on my watch”. Then just wait for their response.
Listening to a song called The Child is Gone by Fiona Apple…. Feel like I just don’t belong…the child is gone. Honey, help me out of this mess. I’m a stranger to myself, don’t reach for me Im’ too far away…I’m trying to find a place I belong…I suddenly feel like a different person…
Don’t want to be narcissistic but I think you were referring to my post, my mother hasn’t actually said anything for days. However the woman who preaches positivity won’t shut up and my grandma keeps saying “I just want you to be happy” over and over again. Despite their annoying comments I think the hardest thing about telling people is when you come across people who become highly empathetic. My PCM just looks at me in pure agony, he wants to help so bad, and I think it pains him further that I constantly have my 11 month old with me. I wish (for at me at least) that people would stop trying to help and just be more attentive when we speak, act, write, in our relationships etc. I myself and many others have expressed how we feel we don’t exist, I don’t think we want a spotlight we just don’t want to feel so minuscule and disposable.