Hi there,

I don't think you came off as lazy or insensitive, just stated your opinion. I think that all mental illness gives like any other illness gives us a right to wallow for a minute. If I broke my leg I will for a minute not walk. but after that minute is up I have to take responsibility for my own actions. you can't get out of depression by acknowledging it alone. You have to make yourself do what you do not want to do despite not wanting to do it. You may derive no pleasure out of reading but you must do it because eventually the pleasure will come back (if that's something you enjoyed in the past).

I believe it is okay to feel self-pity as I said for a minute. But if we do not take action (which all of us have by joining a self-help site) then we cannot expect to get better.

It is frustrating to hear people use excuse after excuse to delay the important steps of working on their issues. I'm hesitant to say that mental illness is not just about a chemical imbalance that can be cured with meds. It is about our actions and what we do to make ourselves feel better. There is a book called Constructive Living which says that you must do what you need to do regardless of how you feel about doing it. For example, you must brush your teeth every day even though you don't want to because the feeling of wanting to will necessarily follow the action after some time of doing the action without the feeling being present.

Lots of life lessons here, great topic. I think you have brought an awareness to how we speak and that is truly important.

Love and Hugs,
Tara