[depressedalaskan]

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe we can solve this here.

[arcangel]

Sorry but IMHO I don't think it can be done. I think you have to be depressed to understand how depression feels. I don't understand how bad it is except when I feel it.
When I'm not actually in depression, depression is like some half-remembered nightmare from long ago. I remember that it was awful but I just don't remember how truly awful it felt at the time.

[elliemay]

It's definitely going to be hard, especially because the symptoms of depression are very similar to what could be considered "character flaws"....

We've all heard it, laziness, lack of ambition, lack of focus, drama queen (I've heard that on this forum!).

I think what separates depression from the above is hopelessness that is associated with it. It's also what makes depression so painful and so dangerous - that mental separation from hope.

I wish I knew. There is a lot of debate even among sufferers of depression, as to what it is. I'm afraid I don't think it's something we CAN solve "here." All we can do is give our own ideas of what we think depression is.

I created two fictional characters, Sara Tonin and Nora Penephrine, to help explain things. They are two managers employed by Brain, Inc. Their job is to keep everything balanced and running smoothly. When things aren't working properly, and depression results, we may need to summon Sara and Nora to crack the whip and get things going again.

[depressedalaskan]

I understand we don't know why we suffer from depression but I think we know that we do suffer from depression. Now how do we get people to understand how we feel, so that they understand. If others would understand, we wouldn't feel so alone.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by depressedalaskan

I understand we don't know why we suffer from depression but I think we know that we do suffer from depression. Now how do we get people to understand how we feel, so that they understand. If others would understand, we wouldn't feel so alone.

I think it is hard to explain... and "we" all don't feel the same. Experiences differs. Words fail to describe it.

for myself I dislike cliches and symbolism. Black holes and pictures of desperate people... strangely make me laugh. Feels "emo", not really as expression of what I feel. It is not sadness, it's more of realization of "futility" of our doings. Feeling insignificant... even to yourself. Powerlessness. Disconnection from the world, because none of that matters anymore....(and eh, I am not expressing myself as well as I would like to).