How do you make people understand that depression is a medical condition?!


Question: How do you make people understand that depression is a medical condition.?
I have "friends" or acquaintances who, when I tell them that I'm going through a depression bout, their response is "well, try not to think too much about your problem", "go out, have fun", "you can't be depressed", etc...
It's like, they don't recognize depression as an illness, they just think I'm down or that I should just get over it... Health Question & Answer


Answers:
just tell them it's not that simple...

or show them this: .?depression" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/headroom/newsandeve...Health Question & Answer

Unfortunately some people will never understand that depression is a serious medical condition and is not just feeling a bit sad, that its not something a bit of fun or cheering up will fix.

I have a good friend who is at university studying psychology. She is only in her first year but she believes that people with depression just need to cheer up and start getting out more. She also thinks that all mental illnesses can be cured with talking alone and that schizophrenics only need someone to talk to. If she doesn't get it, we can't expect anyone else too now can we lol.Health Question & Answer

I agree that is a medical condition, that sometimes requires medication and therapy. It's hard for someone to understand what you're saying if they've never gone through it. But not all cases of depression are or turn clinical, which is what most people may think of when they hear depressed.

How you recover from depression, whether clinical or not, does depend on your state of mind in how well you heal. That's why therapy is important along with medication if you have a chemical imbalance.

Your feelings of sadness are valid, but sitting around focusing on the depression doesn't help, it just increases those negative feelings. Although your friends may not ever understand your feelings, their responses like "well, try not to think too much about your problem", "go out, have fun" are good advice.

Make sure you set up a good support network of friends family, and a therapist if needed. Serving others is a great way to improve your mood. Sometimes people always need something to sort out a chemical imbalance, but our level of happiness can be raised and maintained more easily when we do positive things. Read good books, listen to upbeat music, talk to friends and family, make plans to work in the community.Health Question & Answer

If you have never had a mental illness then it is hard for people to understand. Some people have a bad day so they think that is how depression is and because they could cheer up after their bad day they may not understand why you can't.
Don't let other peoples opinions upset you, just concentrate on getting help. Good luck


I have social anxiety and my mums 'cure' for that was to tell me to get out more and travel even though i have told her thousands of times i can't leave the house!Health Question & Answer

Unfortunately some people just don't get it. My mother in law still tells my husband to cheer up, he has suffered from severe depression for 22 years.
I would just let your friends off, they probably don't know what to say other than that.Health Question & Answer

Some people just don't get it. My mom said to me that if I am not happy then make a better life for myself. I also had an oral surgeon that didn't believe in depression meds. Some people, no matter how high their education, just don't get it.Health Question & Answer

it's really hard to get it through some people's heads. i had to buy my boyfriend a book to understand it. for some reason, reading it in text made it more believable.Health Question & Answer



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