what i don't get.....

....people who offer their help, then get mad when you take them up on the offer because they didn't really mean it and you should have known that......people who want you to "express your feelings," then get mad when you do....people who tell you that reading the Bible more and going to church more will cure you of your depression, when they themselves are more miserable than you are....people who get after other people for taking antidepressants, while they themselves are taking pain meds

yes, this stinks!

i don't get why it is that whenever i have to be awake early i can never get to sleep the night before, then after being tired all day i can't get to sleep till the early hours the next night either

I guess there are a lot of people who don't understand depression that well, are scared of it or mix it up with feeling "down". At least not all people are like that. We just need to keep trying to spread a little understanding maybe (hard though I know)?

Sorry my earlier reply was to Shortandcute but yes so many ways depression can have an effect on your life.

You are apparently over-disclosing. If you do not disclose so much about your medical history, issues, and pharmacological treatment, people would not hurt you so much.

To be fair, if you stop disclosing, you should try to also stay away from finding out if others take pain meds.

Just stick to better boundaries.

I don't think people that have major depression cant pray it away. People take strength in a higher power and it helps them through tough times knowing life has meaning and thier life has a purpose even though they may not know what it is. I think depression needs more than that. Like help from trained professionals and medication that help relieve some of the symptoms. In my experience depression tends to get worse when gone untreated or Igorned.

Try not to let people get to you so much. If they knew your struggle I am sure thier opinion would change. Don't feel bad for getting help or struggling. Everyone struggles with life one way or another.

Hi Shortand cute ~ I'm so sorry you've been hurt. When people offer to help, they need to do just THAT if it's in their power! And I cannot stand hypocrits. That's a REAL "pet peeve" of mine. To say one thing and do another just burns my fanny! I'd say it differently, but I don't use that kind of language. At least not online. LOL

I try to help people, and many times I'm not successful but it's not cause I didn't try. I HATE to see people suffering, cause I know what it IS to suffer. I've been there myself, and it hurts me to see it in others.

If anyone EVER wants to talk, they're more than welcome to message me, cause I WILL talk with them. However, I can't make miracles -- I just have a good ear. LOL And if something I've gone thru can help someone else, then good!

Again, S&C, I'm so sorry you've been hurt. I sure hope I didn't hurt you in ANY way. If I ever did, it certainly was unintentional!!! God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

This made me think of quite a good article about how some people offer things they don't necessarily mean while others wouldn't do that:

This column will change your life: Are you an Asker or a Guesser? | Life and style | The Guardian

First of all, its not like I'm going around and randomly telling everyone and anyone about stuff. And, "to be fair," I never ask anybody what they take. The person I was referring asked ME if I took meds--I didn't go out of my way to tell him. And I did not ask him about his meds, he offered the information to me. And the people who talked to me about the Bible stuff, they don't even know that I have a Dx or am taking meds--I am purposely not disclosing any thing to them. but they are people in my family, so they have noticed that there is "something wrong" and are just assuming its because I'm not reading my Bible.

You are apparently overanalyzing.

I appreciated the parallelism - a nice pun.

I do not have any words of advice because to me people who can say that depression MAY stem from under-reading the Bible are all delusional in the broadest sense of the word, so I would simply not associate with any of them in the first place, but if your immediate family members are such people, then I just would not know what to do if I were you. But at least do not choose such people in your wider circle of contacts - beyond the immediate family.

I mean, if somebody tells you that you might get depression from not reading the Bible, why would you keep conversing with such a lunatic? What is the point? A lunatic is a lunatic and I doubt that they would get any better. There is absolutely no point in:

- getting upset by something lunatics tell you
- trying to persuade lunatics to change their ways
- getting offended, distressed, and so on and so forth

If the issue is persuading people that under-reading the Bible does not cause or exacerbate depression, then no, you should not keep trying to spread a LITTLE or even a LOT of understanding because you should not try to win a losing battle.

I apologize for getting so defensive, hamster-bamster. I did not make myself clear in the first post.

that is OK - the over-disclose-->over-analyze thingie was lovely.

I posted a reply to you yesterday. Today it has disappeared. Did you get to read it? I think I recall you reply to my reply.

I think that sharing your personal struggles with people that have not walked in your shoes is not a good thing to do. Most people have good intentions and may show a false sense of empathy and concern for those of us who are suffering.

But u must understand that many people are carrying a lot of baggage and for the weaker ones it becomes too much if they have to stop and think about how they can sincerely relate to your situation.

I suggest that u hang in there..... u made it this far....... I do beleive in a higher power..... and if u r willing to travel just half way in your journey HE
will carry u the rest of the way.

I wish u all the best in your journey...

Regards,

"almostthere"

yeah, i read your reply--but i'm not sure why it's not there anymore

Thanks. I started a thread titled, if my memory serves "Differences: Psychiatric Diagnoses and Physical Diagnoses." Last I looked, it's sill here and there have been 3 replies. The intro to the thread might be of some interest, even some use, to you. My guess is administrators have erased my posts. I'm waiting to see if they put them back.