[passivezero]

has anyone had experience with family/friends blaming your depression for big changes or big feelings in your life? for instance, saying "you're only feeling this way because you're going through a depressive episode"?
how do you deal with that? how do you validate your feelings or your changes IN SPITE of your diagnosis? how do you make them realize you can have big feelings and still have depression, but that they don't have to be one-in-the-same?

[gypped]

I hate it when they say, "Have you taken your meds?" if I say I'm feeling down. I'm not a child, and I really resent them talking to me that way! I think it's hard for people to understand depression because they think it's a character issue instead of a medical issue; they're sure we can be cured if we just "cheer up." Ugh.

[Fuzzybear]

Some people..
Throw out blame...
When they themselves are more The Culprit

Respect to all

[sarahsweets]

I have only heard this from people that do not understand mental illness. Once I understood my mental illness and explained it, I ignored what they had to say if it was dismissive like that.

Originally Posted by passivezero

has anyone had experience with family/friends blaming your depression for big changes or big feelings in your life? for instance, saying "you're only feeling this way because you're going through a depressive episode"?
how do you deal with that? how do you validate your feelings or your changes IN SPITE of your diagnosis? how do you make them realize you can have big feelings and still have depression, but that they don't have to be one-in-the-same?