I can understand why non-sufferers don't get it..

I am enjoying a wonderfully long remission. It has been years since I have been severely depressed. As I read some of your posts, I can understand completely what you all are going through as I have been there. In the worst way. But reading as a person who is essentially "well", I am beginning to understand how difficult it must be for somebody who has never had depression, or any other kind of mental illness for that matter, to get it. How can they begin to understand something so intricate and deceptive? It always angers me to see that non-sufferers can put us down so easily. But somehow, there is a part of me that understands why. I have no idea where I am going with this. But I always like to put myself in the other person's shoes.

Sabrina,

How right you are! I believe that this community should be a part of each of our overall therapy. I see you have been here a very long time, and now that you are in remission, you still haven't left. Just goes to show that PC IS helpful, even in remission. Thanks for sticking around.

I am happy for you, Sabrina.

I'm glad you're doing well Sabrina. While I do have periodic remissions, they're always quite brief for the most part. Even if I cannot fully fathom the viewpoint of a fully "normal" or at least un-afflicted person, I still have a few theories pertaining to the matter.

Listed in no particular order I would probably say:
1. Unresolved personal weakness, lack of self-esteem, self-centered, no self-actualization

2. Ignorance, stereotype tinted viewing glasses, traditional approach with everything as character flaws

3. Fear, deviation from norm too strange, impeding upon the structured world they know

4. Greed element, if there's no immediate personal gain in their lives for helping sufferers then there's no point

5. Bandwagon, fear of what others may say if they associate themselves with mentally ill, confidence of correct opinion through popular opinion on mentally ill

6. Shame, similiar to bandwagon however may be more geared towards family and friends, stronger because of personal association as well

Probably more I could think of but I think this covers a large portion of it.

Anyways, best wishes,
~Monsieur

Hi Sabrina,
I'm glad you're feeling so much better.
I remember as a teenager-one of my friends going through a depression and I couldn't understand why she slept so much. I didn't judge her but I did think it was sad that she slept so much of her time away.
Not until I went through a depression myself could I understand.
Depression is something you have to go through to appreciate.
People who never learn to appreciate it don't realize how lucky they are.

Hi Sabrina,

I'm new here & I too understand how people don't get it--I have learned from recent experience that confiding in people about being depressed makes others uncomfortable and makes things worse for me. Either they innocently try to cheer me up (which makes me feel more anxious, like I have to pretend to be cheered up to not hurt their feelings), or they look at me funny (adding to my paranoia)!

It's too much to put on just anybody--I'm blessed to have a couple close friends I can be real with.

I'm so glad you're doing well now--it gives me hope.