Attitudes towards depression

[FreshNugz]

If life was perfect, it wouldn't be life, it would be a dream.

Did you steal that or is that your quote...I like it.

[overgrowthegovt]

I know someone who has 85% of their body scarred from 3rd degree burns, he doesn't have functional fingers, and can't do much of anything he once was able to the same way..until I have it worse off than he is, and until people I know have it worse than he does, there's no reason why someone should think that their life is miserable, because he sure doesn't have any problems accepting what he was handed out, nor should anybody else. If life was perfect, it wouldn't be life, it would be a dream.

Of course there's no reason why someone should think that their life is miserable, but they just do. They don't want to, and they know it's irrational, that they really have a lot going for them and that they live in the first world and don't have any burns, but it doesn't matter. I think that's a difficult concept for a lot of people to wrap their head around...rational thought does not enter into it in any way. I congratulate you on your optimism, but not everybody's capable of that...or at least, not easily capable. I really believe it can be achieved with A LOT of effort (I haven't given up).

JohnnyZ...I can tell you're sincere, for sure. I agree about focusing on the solution, too...I've been getting more fresh air, coming more and more out of my shell and trying to keep the inner anxiety to a minimum, and in two weeks I'll be going to a great academy to pursue what I love (acting). I'm trying here, it's just frustrating and it'll take many years, but I hope to one day be truly happy. In the meantime, it's great creativity fuel, so there are pros, too.

[thcbongman]

I'm sure there are other people here who are chronically melancholy, and you must know what I'm talking about here...the irritating and ignorant attitude of most people towards it. I've seen it on this site, in old and very recent threads, where people who speak of feeling badly are dealt with in the wrong manner.

What most people, it seems, will say, is something about remembering you have food on the table, that others are worse off, that you should just grow/cheer up, snap out of it. And all that is true, from a detachedly logical perspective...but the thing is, it's not a fucking rational thing. Rationally, you know there's no reason to feel this way, that it's a toxic feeling that you should just get rid of, that at least you're not living in some third world mud hut. Your logical faculties listen to this, but the rest of you doesn't listen. There's this all-pervasive attitude that depressives are just self-indulgent babies, and it pisses me off. No one wants to feel that way--if there was an easy road out, it would be taken, in a second.

I don't really experience this in my personal life, because I hide it at all times, but I've seen this view on it, and it's fucked. I tried to confide in a dear friend once, who pretty much gave me all the above shit...people just don't understand. Thoughts?

I don't think people can understand unless they experienced the same things themselves. Something like social situations, some people have no qualms about it, even thrive in the environment. Others, they run away from it, they fear it, they get anxious. But when someones give an answer like that, it doesn't mean that they are trying to not be helpful and not to understand. How is someone capable of understanding unless they went through it in your own eyes?

I understand the state of constant melancholy. Even when I'm totally happy, there's apart of me with a heart that's still black. While depression may not seem rational and you don't know what is causing it, deep down, I'm sure you in some way know what it is, but you are such in deep denial about it, you don't want to admit it.

Damn right I agree with you that most of the time, people won't understand. But it doesn't discount the good intentions they have in their heart.

[Hollywierdtoker]

Some don't understand, some are frustrated that they won't get "better", some did get "better" and think others can do the same in the same way, the list goes on and on...

What it all comes down to is supporting these people and trying to help them on an individual level, talk to people, don't let someone carry the weight of the world on their shoulders alone, talk is probably the most powerful medication I can think of.

I know when I was about 4 or 5 and depressed/suicidal I would wish I was those kids in africa and they could take my place, because at least they wanted a chance(hell even some of my family members are still living in the 3rd world and sometimes I wish they could take my place). I know that may seem kind of morbid but I think it might help put into perspective what some deep depression can do to people. And how trauma can really effect people, and I don't want to get into it too much, but once again I want to bring up talking about it, it's healthy.

[weedmaster]

when feeling depressed, i find thinking of others less fortunate than myself helps me to concentrate on all the good things that life has to offer, it's not a cure but it does help me to try and keep focused.

[overgrowthegovt]

Some don't understand, some are frustrated that they won't get "better", some did get "better" and think others can do the same in the same way, the list goes on and on...

What it all comes down to is supporting these people and trying to help them on an individual level, talk to people, don't let someone carry the weight of the world on their shoulders alone, talk is probably the most powerful medication I can think of.

I know when I was about 4 or 5 and depressed/suicidal I would wish I was those kids in africa and they could take my place, because at least they wanted a chance(hell even some of my family members are still living in the 3rd world and sometimes I wish they could take my place). I know that may seem kind of morbid but I think it might help put into perspective what some deep depression can do to people. And how trauma can really effect people, and I don't want to get into it too much, but once again I want to bring up talking about it, it's healthy.

Shit, you were that depressed at 4 or 5? I'm so sorry. It didn't kick in with me until adolescence. I know what you mean about the switching places thing...I used to feel that the first world was wasted on me, that I didn't deserve all Canada's luxuries if all I was going to feel was melancholy. I thought of Africans my age who, were they to come here, would probably be happy from then on. Were I to go there, I probably couldn't get much more miserable, and at least then I'd feel I had a reason. I realized later, though, that it wasn't really my fault...middle-class first-world whites are made to feel tremendously guilty if they're not totally happy, and I bought into that at first. As a side note, the whole emo thing always pissed me off because they were making a self-indulgent fashion out of something people really suffered from that was beyond their posturing understanding.

[Trip06]

shut your pussy ass up you cry baby mother fucker. OMG grab your balls and work a job for 6 months save up and do something really big, take a trip. Move somewhere New. or just keep letting stupid ass shit get you down. You'll see itll happen. Your parents are dead your friends stole all your money, your pets got ran over by 18 wheelers. MOVE ON, really move somewhere new it makes a huge difference its like a fresh new start. Stupid ass cry baby motherfucker.

[JohnnyZ]

I can tell me and this guy are gunna be best friends..

Nice life man, flaming a depressed guy reaching out for help on a forum filled with stoners. It's the internet man, stop acting so tough. I'm sure you shoot lots of birds. That's great.

[thcbongman]

shut your pussy ass up you cry baby mother fucker. OMG grab your balls and work a job for 6 months save up and do something really big, take a trip. Move somewhere New. or just keep letting stupid ass shit get you down. You'll see itll happen. Your parents are dead your friends stole all your money, your pets got ran over by 18 wheelers. MOVE ON, really move somewhere new it makes a huge difference its like a fresh new start. Stupid ass cry baby motherfucker.

A man's no bigger than the way
he treats his fellow man.

This standard has his measure been
since time itself began.

he's measured not by tithes or creed,
high sounding tho they be.

Nor by the gold that's put aside,
nor by his sanctity.

He's measured not by social rank,
when character's the test;

Nor by his earthly pomp or show,
displaying wealth possessed.

He's measured by his justice, right
his fairness in his play.

His squareness in all dealings made,
His honest upright way.

These are his measures, ever near
to serve him when they can;

For man's no bigger than the way
he treats his fellow man.

[JohnnyZ]

Poem burn. That's epic.