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Originally Posted by Rose76
Is it just impossible for some people to understand depression, if they've never had that problem themselves?
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YES.
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Originally Posted by Rose76
What would be a reasonable expectation for me to have of him to be supportive?
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At the very least, he could say comforting things to you when you feel at your worst and not make negative comments about your weight or other sensitive topics.
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Originally Posted by Rose76
Do you have someone in your life who is supportive of you, and does it help you to get over depressive episodes quicker?
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It doesn't help me get over my depressive episodes quicker, but it definitely helps me emotionally to know that my mother completely understands what the depression does to me. (She also has depression.)
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Originally Posted by Rose76
If, like me, you don't have a source of understanding in your life, do you think it makes your struggle harder?
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I have people in my life who REFUSE to understand. And yes, they make it harder. They place unrealistic expectations on you to do things you are simply not capable of.
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Originally Posted by Rose76
He's not especially mean to me. Is that about what I should settle for?
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You shouldn't settle for anything. He shouldn't be mean, and if he loves you, he should want to understand and, if he can't, at least ask what he can do or say to help you feel better. He should have some compassion even if he can't understand what it feels like. I don't know what having cancer is like but I have compassion for those that do.
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Originally Posted by Rose76
Has anyone managed to get someone close to them to understand, even though, for a while, they didn't understand?
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I have no experience on this one.