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I find it odd that having lurked for many months throughout 2017, it is on the very last day of what was a challenging year, I post for the first time. The compelling reason? These thought provoking words from a hero of mine, for those who support we who suffer.
This time of year is often difficult for many, please if you suffer make 2018 the year you no longer tried to suffer in silence... reach out !
Happy new year to you all, and all the very best to each of you in what ever you do in 2018
TherealJE
Dudes bipolar
dondeestaelsanitario
KatieFriend
How do you do that when they purposely push you away?
Itsallinyourheadkit
"Kit, why are you depressed?" "Because go fuck yourself, that's why."
GiantMoron
Sexually harass them till they forget about their depression
Komer
Fry has helped me so much and also a dear friend. So grateful for what he has given me.
DenTommes
I've been depressed for 11 years. Reached out more than once. All I ever achieved with that was to anger my family when I didn't get better.
AgamemnonsMemes
The best thing you can do is support them, offer empathy, not sympathy, and don't try to 'fix' them.. it doesn't work that way
rakkarn
I am one of us, and 2017 has been the worst year to date. Wouldn't want this on my worst enemy.
rickanddianne
Courage my friend.
Voric13
Happen on Winnie the Pooh, they don’t try to cheer Eeyore up, or ask him why he is the way he is, they just get him involved in their lives!
rhymeswithpoolverine
When i used to be frckn depressed and have anxiety attacks. I uswd to be so tired all of a sudden. After a quick nap sometimes fixes it.
rhymeswithpoolverine
Not saying its the solution..but my brother somehow understands and he is 7 yrs younger then me. And he didnt allow me to be alone.
IwentLookingForWhatTheBiggestIdiotHasToSayAndHereYouAre
i mean. asking someone who is depressed why is a valid question. they can be depressed for specific reasons, even if they have the disorder>
IwentLookingForWhatTheBiggestIdiotHasToSayAndHereYouAre
>and talking about those reasons can be helpful. What you shouldn't do is try to insinuate that theyre terrible people for being depressed.
Areawoman84
“Have you tried just *not* having leukemia?” People are such dicks about mental illness. It’s called an “illness” for a reason!
DoctorDanielJackson
Stephen Fry is a treasure.
HeatLegend
My nr 1 rolemodel
Ninjaviolinist
My bro asked me once what it was like. “Ever felt everything was wrong and the only way out was to die?” Don’t think he was expecting that.
Huldra
Some people dont know the differene of having a bad/sad day and having no production of chemicals in the brain.Thats why they say such stuff
TiroDvD
Which is why I compare mental illness to menopause: "Can't you just produce more estrogen now?"
The701
"Have you tried *not* having cancer? I'm cancer-free all my life and I don't know why anyone would choose otherwise."
mizadventures
Be thankful for good health. There are plenty of people with cancer. If I wake up and I'm still breathing then anything else is a bonus.
wadatahmydamie
It completely changed my perspective the day somebody told me that depression isn’t just advanced sadness.
wadatahmydamie
While you’re here, this is an outstanding article: https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/04/02/ask-andrew-w-k-do-you-ever-get-depressed/
Pouvatsu
I really fucking needed that. Thank you.
ArdenJace
I still remember when my counselor told me that, above all else, my anger issues were the biggest sign that I had depression. (1/2)
ArdenJace
I had put off getting help for years simply because I was never sad enough to break down and cry, and he said that that's tragically common.
BAMonomatopoeia
My pet peeve: “what are you depressed about?” Nothing. Everything. It’s depression.
faithealer
He does the Harry Potter audiobooks and they're awesome.
LincLoud
"You should try being happier" says someone without depression. "Where did I leave my gun?" says the person actually suffering
Threeleggedpelican
I had to deal with a suicidal friend and all she needed was someone to listen and talk to her! I had to ask what she was depressed about!
Threeleggedpelican
And that helped a whole hell of a lot!
IWillRegret
Hopefully this is the year I actively fight it. Nice to know it's not just me. Good luck, my brothers in pain!!
rickanddianne
Sisters too.
Liquidus90
Them: Have you tried being more positive? Me:
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[deleted]
MrThomasShelby
Also as an alcoholic, "have you tried just not drinking?" Na I definitely wanted to fuck my whole life up
AimForTheLittleToe
"Just choose happiness! That's what I do and it works for me" Well, gee whiz, Karen! I never even knew that was an option!
NothingOriginalEver11111
Thank you
HardlyThrough
And sometimes people are just lazy, not actually depressed. Not gonna support those people...
Dsharppe
Seems to be common now to travel to a foreign country, party til your broke, rip off a few friends and then bail and blame it on depression
meredithmoderate
How are you going to tell them apart? I’m on disability because my bipolar is so bad. For long months at a time, I’m either in bed or
meredithmoderate
...sitting in my chair. I don’t even register time. I’m sure I look lazy to anyone who knows I do that.
HardlyThrough
It's not my place to play the doctor and evaluate people. It's up to the person with the condition to take responsibility and get help.
Insomnia297
Depression is the natural response to existential crisis. You can get through it, but never over it.
meredithmoderate
Two different types of depression. This is one. The other is biological.
Insomnia297
It's hard to believe that such a large percentage of people are hardwired to hate doing the only thing they're designed to do. It's (1)
Insomnia297
not unreasonable to suggest that we know less about this than we think. It's psychology after all. Shit's complicated. (2)
zstorm6
One of my best friends has it pretty bad. And of course I have no clue how to deal with that, so I spent months being aggressive about it 1/
zstorm6
Finding help, trying to get her to explain, etc. Before realizing that I need to just chill the fuck out. It's difficult, but I always 2/
zstorm6
Try to be there for her. It's exhausting in it's own right, but I'm happy to do it for her. 3/3
meredithmoderate
There are some good sub-Reddit’s that deal with depression. Is she situationally depressed or biologically depressed? Is she on meds?
zstorm6
Mostly situational. No meds. Really hard to talk about so she doesn't want to see a shrink.
zstorm6
And could you refer me to these subreddits? I might check them out.
meredithmoderate
I see his point, but you still need to communicate. When someone tells you they are depressed, tell them that if one day they would like
meredithmoderate
...to tell you about it, you would like to hear. When you listen, try to figure out if they are situationally depressed or biologically
meredithmoderate
...depressed. Ask if you can ask questions! You’ll do them way more good if you really understand what type of depression they are
meredithmoderate
...experiencing. Have they seen a psychiatrist or therapist? You don’t have to tell them to go. You may nudge them to do the right
meredithmoderate
...thing just by asking. There is all kinds of good info online. I recommend you go to a Reddit subgroup on depression, tell them you
meredithmoderate
...have a friend who is depressed and you’d like to learn about it. Most people in those rooms are happy you’re trying to help someone
MoogieMomm
Great post you put out there. Some people do not understand the seriousness of this illness , it's crippling.
katirhi
I've been depressed, but I do not have depression. I understand the difference, but I don't know how to help someone in that situation. ---
katirhi
---what WOULD be an appropriate thing to say to someone who confesses to you that they have depression? I feel like linking ---
katirhi
---depression and suicide helpline phone numbers and websites seems a bit cold and uncaring. They are asking for your help but doing that---
katirhi
---seems like you are passing them off to someone else. What would someone dealing with depression want their friends to do for them?
Ansatsunin
by feeling like there's at least one person in the world who somewhat understands what they're going through. If they're struggling 3/?
Ansatsunin
with basic day-to-day activities, offer to do them together - but make it clear that there's no pressure on them to do so. Just that 4/?
Ansatsunin
you're there for them to not feel so alone when they're struggling to even get out of bed and take a shower, and head out for groceries. 5/?
Ansatsunin
on them. Make it clear that you're there for them to lean on. Show support by listening, first and foremost. Let them feel less alone 2/?
Ansatsunin
Just show interest. Ask how it is, make it clear that they are safe to share how bleak and dark they feel, without suddenly disappearing 1/?
Ansatsunin
It's also very elucidating and informative (that lecture) and might even help your friend understand their own predicament better, 11/?
Ansatsunin
some time on doing so. A great example is watching the hour-long lecture by professor Sapolsky of Stanford on depression together. 9/?
Ansatsunin
understand how the illness affects them. Make an effort to understand the symptoms of depression, and show that you care enough to spend 8/?
Ansatsunin
Let them know that you don't consider them weak, or look down on them, for being the victims of a systemic physical illness - let them 6/?
Ansatsunin
and perhaps help inspire them to seek help. 12/12
Ansatsunin
It's on Youtube. It's a great way to show that you care enough to inform yourself, to try and understand them and their predicament. 10/?
Ansatsunin
feel like a normal person again, even if only a little. Make it clear that you see the real person behind the illness, and that you 7/?