I do get it. What really ticks me off are people who don't have this illness telling me to "just get over it". I think they say that because THEY are the one's who don't get it. I know what triggers me. My problem is I have the unfortunate capacity to telegraph my feelings via my face. What is more vexating is the unbelievable levels of either understanding people have for each other OR down right nasty, rude and indolent attitudes that they exude. Yet, we are the one's with the problem...makes one think. Like you, I would never wish this on anybody.

Oh, how I hate the "get over it" and "why don't you just snap out of it and think positive" comments from those that don't understand. Duh, don't you think we've already tried that? Which is why I find it really important to talk to others when I hear they're going through it too. To let them know that they are not alone in their experience.

I feel the same in my own way. Depression sucks, but in some ways I have benefited from it. I believe I am better person with more empathy, and have found a certain peace in accepting that it will always be an issue for me. I too am on meds and also do talk therapy.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I hope you have a good day.

I've only struggled w depression since this summer...it's awful and scary. I have many people tell me to think positive and to snap out of it. If they only knew how I wish it was that easy. I'm on meds and start talk therapy soon.
Best of luck to you all

I have been battling the worst of it for about the past 22 years. But I have been depressed all my life. I am now 50 and although I do feel compassion for others who suffer I can't say that depresseion has helped me in any way. The quality of my life continues to be pretty poor and basic functioning is still very hard for me. Others have had to take care of me, as well, which I don't like. Don't get me wrong-----Iam grateful for all the help and support but I would have rather been able to be more independant and at the very least worked enough to help pay bills so that my husband didn't have to bear most of the burden.

I was wondering the same thing. I feel like I've wasted so much of my life letting depression ruin it. I have had a 3 year period at one point where I would consider it gone... I actually felt normal. But it never lasts and the depression creeps up and sucks you in and before you know it you don't even remember how many years you've been depressed again.
People don't understand that you get bombarded with negative thoughts so fast and so often that you can't work through one before 10 more pop into your head. It's like doing battle before you can even get out of bed to live the rest of your day.
so MANY people still don't believe it's a disease...and yes it's our responsibility to treat our disease but we shouldn't be ashamed that we have it.
I have a lot of Christian family and friends...Huge stigma. Depression means you don't have faith in God= sin=hell. My mom has major depression and always goes off her meds because of this and then quits taking care of all her other health issues. ARGH!
Hope everyone can find their path to some long lasting relief.

For me, yes, it goes away when there is love, humor and imagination present, when I'm playing with my niece and nephews, who are 20 months, 3 and 7.

Little kids certainly have their issues, melt-downs and down moments, usually when life doesn't go their way, but they "get over it", after they're distracted by something else they find fun, or after they take a nap (all negative issues are forgotten after sleep), very quickly. A lot can be learned about resilience from little kids.

Good point Vansman!

I would NEVER tell someone to just snap out of it but I DO think it is possible to tell yourself you can just sort of be OK with it for a while.

I read a book about depression I got some good stuff out of.

I believe it was called Enough is Enough.

I liked the line that said, If you MUST go back to bed at least get up and brush your teeth first!

I also think giving yourself PERMISSION to feel awful helps

I know beating myself up about it just makes it last longer.

I have my days.. been this way since my husband walked out on our marriage. Since then, its different things.. many small things.. like where is money going to come from to pay for this or that? providing for my girls, stressful life.. I am currently a bit depressed but I am dealing with it the best I can with my girls leaving the nest for colleges. It is just me now.. week 3 and finally things are looking up. I do understand when people find out that I do battle with depression.. they would be shocked.. and say.. you always looks so happy. I say everyone gets them.. some more than others. so hang in there! hugs!

Oops! I meant Koolman!

I get a lot out of helping others and it seems to be something I can do no matter how bad I feel. I have been trying to input to posts on this site. Although I have not felt educated enough to input too much to this support group, I am the one getting support.

I have been guilty of minimising the affect depression has on someone in the past. "Surely you go see someone, get magic drugs and carry on, don't you?". It is easy for those not involved to not understand as society seems to tell us it is a weakness and those affected are suffering some sort of overreaction that a few drugs will sort it. I know the reality of it now.

I don't know how long I have been having "down" periods. If I think about it I possibly have been for many years. It has only become scary in the last may be 1 - 2 years. Why is easy, many catastrophic events in sequence over 4 years; wife's newly diagnosed disability, parents worsening health, natural disaster, child self harming, wife diagnosed with terminal illness, my mum dying, my father in-law dying and to top it all discovering I am gay (still in the closet).

I hide my suffering from all because I cannot add to their problems, I have to be the strong one. I hate the thought of telling anyone including (especially?) professionals. This site has been my saviour on several occasions. I get understanding, ideas and have formed strategies that help.

I hope you are aware of how much you help and I hope I can do the same.

ehh some people are just born predisposed to depression. Its all genetic. I highly doubt that my depression will fade with time. It will morph into something else, or exist as a silent current of my emotions. I realized that I cant be truly happy. Its just not in me, I dont have the temperament or the personality to embody happiness. I wasnt blessed genetically in that regard. Its a shit life having to deal with these feelings, but when i look at my dads family, I see a lot of crazy going on... so no wonder I have also been gifted with such shit. It is what it is,, too bad we cant pick and choose our parents.

there is a theory I strongly believe out there about most mental health issues in our country and countries run similar to our own, that is that as children we did not get enough one on one with the adults who truly cared about our welfare and our good, this has been ongoing in our society since public school began, we spent far more time with people our own age who were competing for that same attention that we were needing, we drew to what we were around, like baby ducklings will do when they hatch from thier eggs, they orient to whatever is moving around them, and what we oriented too was meant to be caring adults, but instead it was too other children who could not raise us and give us what we needed to mature and grow in a healthy manner. Well I have taken this theory to heart, I believe it is the devil of all our souls.

I definitely think there is a genetic component.

I am a naturally grumpy person and my Hubbie is a naturally calm happy person.

But I do not believe that is ever the whole story, and I think ppl need to at least try to break free for a few minutes at a time.

Nobody is happy all the time.