Why do people tell depressed individuals to 'grow up', is depression like trix and for kids?

Answer 1

I guess they wonder whether the person is truly suffering from clinical depression, or perhaps doctors have told them the person isn't really depressed?

Everyone has things going on which make them sad, angry, depressed- but they don't talk about it openly. Most of us realize that everyone has issues, an try not to bring others around them down.

There are billions of people in the world who aren't happy with something- that doesn't constitute depression. Life is full of good and bad experiences, we just can't get stuck dwelling on the bad ones when they happen.

It's like going along riding a bike- if a child hits the curb, falls off and scrapes his knee, he might sit there crying for hours. An adult who fell off his bike would realize that yes it hurts, but after a minute they dust themselves off and continue on their way. After all, the time spent crying isn't doing anything to change what happened, and it's taking time away from doing more enjoyable things that don't involve sitting at a curb :)

But clinical depression is a more serious problem (think falling off the bike and having two broken legs), so people in that category need more than a little encouragement to beat it. But depression definitely can be beaten!

Answer 2

Hi

Mental illness, including depression falls into the catagory of "Can't see it? Doesn't exist". Of course this type of catagory has come from people who do not have or had depression or any other type of mental disorder.

So with that being said, it is so much easier for people to say things like "grow up, get a life, get yourself together, there's nothing wrong, your just lazy", etc. Even though this type of thoughtis wrong and the public information out there on mental illness is making people aware, they don't accept it or maybe a better way for some is they don't want to accept it, or maybe because they are depressed and the awareness is too hard to accept for themselves? I don't know.

If I were having a sever anxiety attack, sweating, shaking, and all the symptoms and I am sitting next to someone who has a broken leg and is in a cast w/ crutches and is in no pain and is healing properly, the person with the broken leg will have the public's attention and sympathy. I on the other hand in obvious distress will be ignored because I do not have a big band-aid across me that shows I am hurting. To me that is one of the worst things that can happen to some one with any disorder.

If you can't see it, then it doesn't exist, so stop being a baby and pick your self up, get yourself together, stop whining and get on with life. Well that just doesn't happen that easy.

The best way to stop this ignorant (no offense meant) behavior is thru education, and understanding. Once this can be accomplished, then knowing that we have been accepted for who we are, what we have and how we are feeling, then some of our healing from depression can begin. Not only is our acceptance crucial in our healing, but when the disorder is not a stigma, that also makes the healing process a little less painful.

Be safe and be well

Answer 3

Anyone who tells someone with depression to "grow up" needs their head examined!

Depression is something that strikes people of all ages; children, teens and adults. It is very common in today's society given the high divorce rate, hurried life-style most lead, world pressures of war and threats, etc., etc.

Depression is a serious issue; among teens, it is one of the most serious issues because of the high rate of suicide involved in that age group. It robs people of a good life, it affects their home life, job, everything.

I suggest the next time some idiot says "grow up" when it comes to depression, you hand them a pamphlet you can get at the local health department that describes depression. Hopefully, by educating this person, they will be quiet.

Answer 4

Depression is not like Trix and for kids. It is real and painful. People making that type of comment do not understand depression and are a bit insensitive.

Answer 5

It is easy for people who have never experienced depression to have opinions like that. It is like saying "pull yourself together", not realising that actually, you can't.

Answer 6

People who are smart seldom say that. there's no stupidity like not having had any troubles and not empathizing with those who do.