Last Post: 11:23:54pm, 07/01/2017
for what it's worth i agree with conflict. it's ignorant to think that all forms of depression can be cured by just getting off your ass and "beating it" by working harder. depression is complex and often irrational, and it's reckless to tell someone who's been severely depressed for a decade that if they weren't such a bitch they could be better by now.
it's always worth it to encourage someone to better their circumstances, but happiness doesn't always come from having a good job, being in shape, and having relationships. i mean honestly, there are plenty of successful people who are depressed. can you really tell a depressed person that it's their fault for being depressed because they aren't successful enough in good faith?
i'm often depressed. it's come and gone in waves since highschool. i will say that the two times my depression were at their worst were when i was incredibly overworked for a few months, and when i was unemployed for a few months after college, which makes sense. bad circumstances usually make depression worse. when i finally got my first job after college, i was doing pretty well for awhile, but eventually my depression reared it's ugly head again. it hit me harder than usual because i realized that no matter how well i'm doing my depression will find a way to bring me down. i had a good job, an apartment to myself for the first time, and i was dating a new girl, but i started contemplating suicide anyways. i felt hopeless, because i realized that independence, money, and relationships didn't keep my depression away. so what's the point in continuing to live if i can't beat this?
my point is, some kinds of depression can't be beat by manning up. don't discourage people from seeking the help they need because you think you understand their mental illness, because you were able to beat it your way.
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TC, i'm sorry you feel that way. i was almost crushed by a few short months of unemployment, and it's easy to spiral into self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. don't let them call you weak or lazy, even if you feel that they're right. sometimes the people closest to you might seem annoyed or angry with you, but many times that's because they're frustrated and don't know what to do.
if you can, see if you can try finding a therapist or psychiatrist. it might seem like a waste of money, but if it sets you on the right track then it's worth the world. and if it doesn't work out, you can always stop going or go find a new doctor.
also, try committing to improving a small aspect of your life, even if it just means something simple like cleaning your room or eating a few more fruits and vegetables. when you learn to control one aspect of your life, you will learn the confidence to improve yourself in other ways. don't be afraid of failure. find something you know you can do.