Why don't people understand that depression is a disease?

Question

I hate people to tell me to "get over it" or "where's your faith".

Answer 1

I never could understand why people act that way either - Depression is as much a disease as being diabetic or having heart disease. It is something you can't control. Don't worry about other people and what they say they've fortunately never had depression or they would understand. By the way I've never had depression and by all means do not know what it is like but I sympathize for you and hope you will heal.

Answer 2

I was on prozac for a while and people kept saying "but you are always happy so how can you be depressed". The thing is until a few years ago I probably would have been the same.

It is because people cannot see any symptoms and they do not understand what you are going through. My wife actually knows what I went through but no and again when I get down she finds herself doing the same. It is frustration.

Your problems probably seem simple to people and they are annoyed that they cannot fix you. It will be fine but the big thing is you need someone to talk to. Talk to your doctor and they will help, or look for people on the net with similar problems.

Answer 3

There are a couple of big reasons that put people who truly suffer from depression at a disadvantage. First, depression meds in this country are WAY overprescribed. That leads to a culture where people think the answer to all their problems is in a pill, and the people from the "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" camp become critical of ANYONE who needs any type of medication or therapy to overcome depression. The other half of the equation deals with the "victim culture" we have also developed in this country. People who don't want to take responsibility for their own lives or their own actions are always looking for excuses -- you know, something to blame for their problems other than themselves -- and depression is one of the scapegoats of escapists and hard-liners alike.

BOTTOM LINE: While it's true that each individual is responsible for his/her own well-being physically, mentally, and emotionally, and while it is also true that human beings have the capacity to do almost anything they want to do if they put their minds to it, it's equally true that there are people who suffer from depression and cannot simply "get over it." It's the people who in reality CAN get over it but choose to not to and instead play the victim and look to drugs as a cure that give people who really DO suffer from depression and really DO need medication and therapy a bad name. Sad, but true.

Answer 4

because people who have never experienced it don't understand how hard it really is. they don't see that it is not something that happens just because you're "sad" or that you should just be able to snap out of it. if they've never felt what it is like to be depressed they have a very hard time understanding it. i also think that there isn't enough knowledge about it out in the general public. they just think that its a little problem that people have and they'll just snap out of it when they realize that life is okay, but they don't bother to find out what it is that is causing someone to feel depressed. we aren't taught about it and we don't know anything about it unless we have it or are a dr to treat it. also, society has taught most of us that to be depressed means that we are sick, or we have a "problem" in a derogetory sense of the word. its basically not okay to admit most of the time to having depressed thoughts or feelings which is totally unfair!

**i feel for you, i hope that you can work through it. stay strong**

Answer 5

Having been depressed, I can appreciate your feelings. And yes.... It is a "dis-ease". However, keep in mind those people are trapped within their own mental constructs (perhaps different forms of "dis-ease") that may be just as limiting to them as depression seems to be for you.

The question I have is what are you doing to cure yourself?

The caution I offer is to not use the disease as an excuse for not trying to get better or to try.

Answer 6

It's not a disease as defined by the medical community it is a dis-ease, something that makes you feel uneasy. Ignore the people who tell you 'get over it' or 'where's your faith', more often than not these people haven't experience it so they really don't know.
In my opinion it's a state of mind, state of how you feel about yourself and your environment. You have the power to change this, it's starts from within you, "I will feel good today, I will accomplish something, I am worth it, I can survive". I suffered depression for a long time and now I am fully recovered because I realized I could control my feelings and what happens around me. Of course it always helps to have positive people around you who encourage you, who give you hope, who help you realize that you are special and unique to this world and you're worth it!!!
I could care less if you like my response or not, it's what worked for me and that's all that matters. If it helps others then great! (I can't stand people who vote negatively - probably people who haven't a clue though.)

Answer 7

Because if they have never been depressed, they usually won't understand. I know exactly how you feel. Some people I guess can just "get over it", I've been there though, and I know I couldn't. I'd rather have just died.

Answer 8

Because unless people experience it themselves, they dont understand how it feels. I suffer from depression from time to time but mainly axiety. I get the same response from my boyfriend and friends, to snap out of it or "life isnt that bad". Do they not think that if we could choose not to feel down we would?! Do they think its our choice to feel that low?! Hope you're feeling better soon.

Answer 9

Those people must not suffer from depression. They don't understand that you can't control your emotions and thoughts. I've gotten responses like those too and it is very upsetting.

Answer 10

Because there is being depressed and clinically depressed. Most people associate with being sad rather than something more serious, because of its name.