[Tombola]

I'm not talking about clinical depression.

My friends have just told me they don't believe depression exists in the sense that it's merely induced by the mind. These people are essentially putting themselves in a negative spiral or wallowing in the worlds, rather than getting on with it.

What I disagree with them is how easy it is to break out of a habit. When asked about all the various forms of phobia, all I got back was merely that the person should expose themselves more to the fear.

Often we're told that never to tell a depressed person to just cheer up, since it's not helpful in the slightest way. But I get this horrible feeling that they are right in a way...

Someone help me out here.

[Cynical Optimist]

Apparently, it's been shown that the 'pretend you're fine and you'll become fine' does actually work with a lot of people. (Once you've realised you have a problem with being upset). How easy it is to do, on the other hand, I'm not sure...

[*starry_eyed_*]

The whole thing about pretending you're ok works to a certain extent...I had to for a few months when I was with my ex, as he claimed people would get fed up with me being down all the time...but I then spent the next few months a completely different person, drinking/clubbing every night..

[Cynical Optimist]

I think the aim is to make yourself pretend to be happy with the way you really are, and that way if you start to feel it it will fit with what you really are. But anyone that has had depression, or knows people that have, knows how hard that is to do.

[sdt]

It does work but you need energy to actually break out of that cycle. Depression leaves one with roughly zero energy. It actually feels really nice to wallow in your own misery. When trying to break out of that spiral it's hard because it doesn't feel good immediately.

[WolfSong2000]

I've got depression myself and can fake being okay to a certain degree at times, but other times no chance in hell. Just varies, I guess depending on factors involved, e.g. severity of depression, current situation (i.e. stress levels), etc

[Tombola]

Then wouldn't the horrible description that people apply to depressed people be somewhat true?

A lack of will power. Lazy. People wallowing in self-pity... etc
Ergh.

Think the real problem is that they are underestimating the difficulty to escape out of such a position, considering their belief that it's extremely easy to break a habit.

[sdt]

Suppose you were locked in a brick walled room with a sledgehammer and were told to break out, you wouldn't think much of it. Now suppose someone takes away that sledgehammer and tells you to use your fists instead, what then? Same principle. The very tools needed to get out of that state are taken away from you.

[anna_spanner89]

I had an idiot of an ex- who i reckon also had depression, however he kept telling me 'just get on with it'....as if it was easy

[Cynical Optimist]

Originally Posted by sdt

Suppose you were locked in a brick walled room with a sledgehammer and were told to break out, you wouldn't think much of it. Now suppose someone takes away that sledgehammer and tells you to use your fists instead, what then? Same principle. The very tools needed to get out of that state are taken away from you.

I see what you're saying, but I'm hesitant to think it's quite like that, mainly because I like to think everyone has the tools (potential) to break out of it. But who knows, maybe cos of chemicals and things they don't...

[Tombola]

Originally Posted by sdt

Suppose you were locked in a brick walled room with a sledgehammer and were told to break out, you wouldn't think much of it. Now suppose someone takes away that sledgehammer and tells you to use your fists instead, what then? Same principle. The very tools needed to get out of that state are taken away from you.

I love this anology for some reason

[Saffie]

What are you getting at?

Of course people with depression should try and live normally.. but its not that easy and they usually need help.

[sdt]

Originally Posted by Cynical Optimist

I see what you're saying, but I'm hesitant to think it's quite like that, mainly because I like to think everyone has the tools (potential) to break out of it. But who knows, maybe cos of chemicals and things they don't...

Not everyone does. Some people don't actually have any sensations of empathy, some people lack emotions altogether, etc. Just like some people have no arms or legs, others lack certain mental faculties.

[Tombola]

Originally Posted by Saffie

What are you getting at?

Of course people with depression should try and live normally.. but its not that easy and they usually need help.

Two things really:

To see whether my friends are right.
So I can attempt to null their arguement against depression not existing.

[Cynical Optimist]

Originally Posted by Tombola

Two things really:

To see whether my friends are right.
So I can attempt to null their arguement against depression not existing.

Well, it obviously exists, it just depends on what it's definition is.

[Glorious Lozhka]

Telling a depressed person to "just cheer up" is unhelpful. Telling them how to cheer up, though, can be very helpful.

[Blue Rose]

Originally Posted by Tombola

I'm not talking about clinical depression.

My friends have just told me they don't believe depression exists in the sense that it's merely induced by the mind. These people are essentially putting themselves in a negative spiral or wallowing in the worlds, rather than getting on with it.

What I disagree with them is how easy it is to break out of a habit. When asked about all the various forms of phobia, all I got back was merely that the person should expose themselves more to the fear.

Often we're told that never to tell a depressed person to just cheer up, since it's not helpful in the slightest way. But I get this horrible feeling that they are right in a way...

Someone help me out here.

If someone's a bit down u can tell them to cheer up, give them reasons to be and it'll work, if it's actual depression it's the LAST thing you should do. I can't tell you how much worse it makes me when people tell me that because you CAN'T cheer up when you're depressed, that's the problem lol.

And the fact that people tell you that, it shows they aren't taking u seriously and then you think "there's really NO-ONE to help me because the don't understand HOW down I am" and it digs the hole even deeper.

[*pink_sapphires*]

Depression definitely exists. It is a severe mental illness that can be caused by external factors or by a chemical imbalance in the brain. To say depression does not exist would be like saying there is isn't a war going on in Iraq. It most certainly does exist and it's not pleasant. Hopefully with the help of charities and the media, one day the stigma surrounding depression will be lifted.

[death.drop]

sorry if I'm being slow but if you're not talking about clinical depression what are you talking about?
if it's not clinical depression isn't it just feeling low? which, yeah, can be sorted out with relative ease.

[Clestafarian]

Originally Posted by Tombala

I'm not talking about clinical depression.

So what type of depression are you talking about if your not talking about the condition. Just fleeting moments of feeling a bit blue? That's not depression.