I've always wondered why some people don't get that people don't like to read things in all caps.

But that is just me.

People fail to understand because they are not affected by it, and so are ignorant, in the long term this makes them unwell as well, because ignorance isn't bliss. Depression is real, no mistake about it.

I'll say it again: Happiness takes WORK. A sense of responsibility for something larger than yourself. Depression is a self-absorbing, self-consuming disease. "Woe is ME", "I am in pain" "it's all about ME". It's like a vortex that sucks everything and everyone in, and gives nothing back.

I like derena's point: "We enjoyed being victums. We had no responsibilities, but few pleasures, either."

I have indeed experienced depression, been very down in my life. But there comes a point when I say, I don't like feeling this way, and I'd like to rejoin the living. Then I force myself to get out of bed and do something, FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

I just recently called my best friend and told her that I FINALLY understand why she never left her apartment all those weekends in our 20's, and why she was always so tired and didn't want to do anything.

My point being that unless you experience it for yourself, you really don't understand. Why can't someone just get up and go out and enjoy the day?

Now that I've been through it, I understand My philosophy is more like Koolman's though...We have to push through it and take responsibility for our own well being. When it is at it's worst, we still have to try to get out and walk and get air and interact with people.

I find that doing something for someone else helps me the most, Along with interacting with people.

But, in answer to your question, it is so hard because they can't "see" depression, they only see you lying around. It doesn't add up to a broken arm or leg, it only adds up to you looking lazy.

People that haven't experienced it don't understand.

Koolman, you made another good point:

People DO reject the notion that you're actually going through something which is very painful for them to contemplate, because they are afraid of it ever happening to them. They cannot picture themselves in your shoes. It's not cruelty, it's just the way it is. I think that is a fairly natural, but alienating, human response to deep pain.

I learn something new everyday. I learn more about other people's experiences, and that almost always helps me re-shape how I deal with my situation.

You can always encourage those folks who are saying this to do some research on their own. There's SO MUCH MORE INFO available now, than there ever was before. It's out there for the asking.