Amen to that!! Kinda like my hubby telling me to snap out of it.... like it's sooo easy! I guess if he gets cancer or a cold or the flu I'll have to tell him to snap out of it!!

You are right of course, but I've found myself dropping in depression to avoid something I can't face. Maybe that's not really depression then.

I did not, I repeat did not choose to be ravaged by this so called invisible illness for 20 something years. If all I had to do was right down some gratitudes and do some exercise I would have been cured years ago, and many others as well. If you have a wife and kids and beautiful home but find yourself still depressed are you choosing to feel crappy and just not pushing yourself? I think not.

these illnesses are from chemical imbalances in the brain...not because of personality or weaknesses, etc...therapy & meds are the things that help...but i do not believe that we choose to feel the way we feel due to our illnesses...doing things that are theraputic are good for us but it won't take our illnesses away...

but remember we are not our illness, it is just a part of us :)

This whole thought process began somewhere else I believe and it just keeps on a keepin on. Depression is an illness. People could not choose it if they wanted to. It is not an addiction as addictions feel good. There--have I covered it? I hope so!

Why would you choose to be depressed, that is just plain silly! I would rather be out there enjoying life.

One of the problems with depression in particular, I think, is that SOME people ARE naturally self-centered, lazy, and maybe habitually negative in their thinking. These people can change their behavior by changing their thought processes.

WHOOPIE!!!, and more power to them.

But when ignorant people come on here and try to tell us who are NOT like that, who are CLINICALLY depressed, (and by the way, IRRITABLE, and more subject to talking and acting violently [this is not a threat; a fact]) they will, I guess, have to learn the hard way - by being ignored, or eaten alive.
I suggest ignoring their ignorance.

I don't even wish it on my worst enemies. So that should tell everyone something.

I think that for some people believing that they choose to be depressed is a lot more comforting than knowing that they have abslutely no control over this disease.

i agree peace! alot of the people in my life think that i choose to be this way and that i can turn it off or on when i need attention! wish there was a way to make them understand its not a choice, like a patient that has cancer or another illness!