Hi guiltier,

Just because you haven't got an identifiable reason (although chemical imbalance or biological causes could be very good reasons in the absence of others) doesn't make it any the less real/hurt any the less
And to me entitlement/the right to feel pain/depression doesn't come into it, it just is, you don't choose it, you wouldn't choose it, and everyone's pain/depression matters regardless of who they are
It's kind of like if you break a leg and your neighbour breaks two that doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to experience the debilitating effects of breaking your leg because they have it worse...........pain is pain..........it is, and it matters!!
And you know..........if you actually talk about your experiences of depression it might actually help you both...........there are going to be some things she is going through that you can maybe identify with...........help her feel less alone.
My guess is that she isn't going to want pity or sympathy but empathy, and that may be something you can give each other??
So maybe look for similarities instead of comparisons???
Depression can isolate people so much in itself, but that you can maybe help a little. for you and for her, by talking about what you're going through???



Alison