Tried explaining to a friend. He told me to go outside and get some sun..

[Loveiskind12]

It's hard explaining depression to somebody who doesn't have it... They just don't understand. It's difficult to even explain it because the reasoning doesn't quite fit the description of even how I'm feeling. #thestruggleofdepression

[kenster1]

hi if its a good friend they would be willing to learn in order to understand you.maybe you could sit them down over a coffee and explain how you feel.

[Hidden]

I hear ya 🌹

[LilyAnnepuppy]

There are so, so many ideas my friends and family use to try and “fix” me. “You have to think positively!” “Go for a walk.” “Get out of the house.” “Volunteer”. One even told me to “get a dog!”

These ideas work now that I’m getting stabilized (except the dog), but when I’m in the black, anxious pit, I can’t even get out of bed!

Most of them just wanted to help me and didn’t know how (as I was limited before experiencing the actual symptoms).

Going for counseling and finding the right meds was the most positive thing I could do. So far so good.

[BrainFog-Ninja]

Hi. That’s a shame that your friend didn’t get it. But it is hard to explain, and to understand. Was the friend interested in what you had to say at all? If so, maybe try again. Or try another friend?

After my mom died, one of my BEST friends said ridiculous things to me...like: Aren’t you over that yet? and Oh, your still upset about the normal cycle of life? What? How could she say that to me?

Even friends can say stupid things, and/or not be equipped to listen to / help with certain topics. At least when that happens we know going forward...

[Hidden]

i understand! my ex friend and still coworker told me to cheer up and be grateful for what i have. I'm what a dick!

[Want2BHappy3]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't do that anymore to any friends or family. They don't want to hear it, like you said they don't understand. They want it to go away. Believe me I've learned from experience, my own kids have chosen to isolate me as a way to deal with it. My siblings say that I make things up. I have one friend, but I think it's only because she's 85 and depends on me to take her to her doctors appointments. Otherwise ZERO friends. Im retired and spend about 80% of my time Alone. So when I'm around my family I pretend everything's fine.

[Kat63 in reply to Want2BHappy3]

It’s horrible. It truly is living with an illness that other people can’t understand and are not equipped to deal with.

If we had a physical/visible illness, maybe people would handle it better.

[Want2BHappy3 in reply to Kat63]

Yea, maybe you can show them this website and they can see how serious it is?

[Kat63]

They just don’t get it. You need to get up to a certain level of energy and healing BEFORE you can do things like going out somewhere. You have to be able to crawl before you can walk.

They mean well, but they just have no idea how low we really go.