It's a moving picture (show :-) What I post this hour is not all of my posts nor how I feel at all (or even most) times. If one has a broken leg, we excuse their not walking well, it's obvious they cannot. If one is diagnosed with depression, some excuse their difficulties with "moving and shaking", and some don't. Those who don't take another's depression "seriously" or who "forget"/don't want to see the pain another is in, right this moment, make it harder for that person, right this moment.

I believe that sometimes, another stating their diagnosis (or just what they think/how they feel) is just another way of saying "Ouch" because we can't always see the effects of mental illness, may have "forgotten" telling someone to "go out and do something" won't work for someone suffering from major depression anymore than saying "Don't cry!" or "Don't be afraid" will help with someone who cannot stop crying or who is anxious/having a panic attack.

I think I understand where you are coming from, LazyLogophile, and I have often thought similar thoughts. What gives me the most trouble is posts asking for help that start out with "I'm helpless". "I'm depressed and can't do anything. . . what can I do about it?" is a frustrating post for me to read because I can think of what I think I might do if I were depressed, but I'm not depressed and am not that person so anything I might have to say is probably not going to be of help to that person. However, what I say, what I feel, how I respond to others is always going to be of possible help to Me, and that's why I'm here.