For some reason I'm just in an angry mood and want to vent about things that well meaning people have said to me that really tick me off.
1. Oh yea, I know what it's like to be depressed. I failed a test once and was really depressed for like two days.
2. Anything suggesting that if I had a better relationship with God, prayed more, read the Bible more, etc, then I wouldn't be depressed.
3. My life/starving children in africa's lives are much worse than yours are, so what do you have to be depressed about?
4. I know you've struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts for years, but EVERYONE feels like that, and you just have to get over it.
Again, all things that have been said to me, most multiple times over many years. Usually from adults, so I've never felt comfortable contradicting them. Also, I have problems with asserting myself anyway. But hearing those things is so freaking annoying. and unhelpful.
Just so this isn't entirely a complaint, here are some of my favorite things people have said to me when I've been depressed.
1. I love you.
2. It's not your fault.
3. Any sort of joke or funny story.
4. You're awesome.
Those simple things can be very comforting when I'm suffering. I hate people trying to fix me or assuming they can help because they've been "depressed" before. Having depression and being depressed aren't the same thing. Clinical depression, I feel, should have a different name, because it's such a serious mental illness, and people think it's the same thing as being depressed because something bad happened. I'm not trying to minimize people who have bad things happen to them and are sad or depressed, just trying to say there is a difference between clinical depression and being depressed. On the other hand, I love hearing from people who do suffer from clinical depression, because they usually know the right things to say, or at least less damaging things. Also, it's just nice to not be alone. /rant
Also, I bought a fish. He's beautiful.
So just thought I'd share a few thoughts. I'm really disappointed in you feeling all depressed - it's all your fault, you know. Just call some of those orphans in Ghana and see how they feel. You should really just snap out of it, because what I'm going through is bound to be worse than what you're going through.
ReplyDeleteOK, are you smiling?
Curtis
Ha, goodness, I am smiling now, but you almost made me cry. Good thing I read the whole comment though. lol
ReplyDeleteYou only kid the ones you love!
ReplyDelete