Explaining Depression to Others: How to Get Them to Understand

What is the best way to explain to others, who have not experienced depression, what it feels like on a bad day and why I can’t just “get over it”?

Your answer

SammyNova

2y ago

We can't just get over it because it's a paradoxical mental illness. We need motivation to convince ourselves do things that make us feel better, but the illness is that we lost our motivation and energy to do anything at all. When someone says they wish I would just be happier or more motivated, I say "Well that's why depression is a mental illness." And I try to improve for myself and not for anyone else.

SimplySassy

2y ago

❤️

NEW

2y ago

I had to explain this once to a brother figure. I explain that: imagine you’re in the ocean, the middle of the ocean, the little waves will come and go when you overcome them, but then a storm starts coming in and you’re hit wave by wave until you are struggling and you’re fighting for your life

xlovelyx

2y ago

that’s a great visual that I think many people could understand! Thank you!

Ariana_Felicitas

2y ago

I myself always need medication and routine to be okay . Even sometimes I have my moment .

xlovelyx

2y ago

thank you for replying!

Ariana_Felicitas

2y ago

To imagine having the worst day of there life . Getting fired or going through a break up or even death in family . Having depressed can make life feel incredibly difficult.

xlovelyx

2y ago

thank you so much for your reply!

Randa

2y ago

If feels like being covered in a heavy blanket that makes everything more difficult and energy consuming. It feels like nothing is important enough to exert the energy required and like there's no hope that anything is going to get better. The only thing I want when I'm like that is sleep and to be alonr

xlovelyx

2y ago

thank you for answering my question! Your explanation was exactly how I feel. I completely identify with the feeling that nothing is important enough to exert energy for. I guess I feel dramatic when I explain it similarly to this, but that is honestly how it feels. It’s difficult being surrounded by people who have never experienced depression or those who don’t want to say that they or anyone else has depression. I was told too long to “pray the depression away” and that got me no where. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts.

RockFriend

2y ago

we have different mindsets than them. we hyper fixate on what is bothering us or is putting us in a depressive episode. when we deal with sadness, we don’t put it behind us. it takes a toll on our body and everything we do. we blame ourselves for what happened. we overthink everything. i hope this helps at least a little bit

xlovelyx

2y ago

thank you so much for replying! I like the way you talked about it taking a toll on our body and everything we do. That is a perfect way to describe the constant heaviness to someone who has never felt it.

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