If you have a stomachache, you’d see a doctor get the necessary treatment. If you have a headache, you will get the medicine handed to you immediately. But, if you have depression… NO, that doesn’t exist, don’t think about it or you’d catch it somehow. If you’re suffering from any mental illness, please SNAP OUT OF IT. The world is so beautiful; there’s so much more to life than this, don’t waste it away in sadness.
While some people tell you to stop thinking about it, some to focus on other things, some tell you to change it magically with concentration, motivation and dedication (though motivation is the very thing depression destroys). “Stop dwelling in self-hatred.” “If you’re anxious, just CALM DOWN.” “You’re overthinking, keep yourself busy”. “Well, if you have depression, you can just get up and go out for some time, it’ll be okay.” “Get out of your mind.” “You don’t even try to make things different for yourself.”
If you have a stomachache, no one asks you to ‘SNAP OUT OF IT’. If you have a headache, no one will tell you to stop thinking about it or focus on other things. No, you’d see a doctor, take medicines and appropriate rest to get better. But that’s not the case for your unhealthy brain.
These stigmas around mental health are the main reason why people with a mental illness spend their lifetime hiding their disorders and traumas. Sometimes, they even lose their lives because of lack of proper diagnosis, treatment and support.
The brain is the most complex and important part of the human body because it’s the centre that controls and coordinates all our voluntary and involuntary activities. If your brain is unhealthy, how will you ever be able to function?
If you have paralysis and you’re bed-ridden because there was clotting in your brain, no one will come and tell you to get up because ‘it’s all in your head’. But, paralysis is visible, so it’s understandable. Depression is invisible, so it doesn’t bother us, Because “you look just fine, why don’t you ever try to be happy?” “Why don’t you just let it go?” “Why are you so negative?”
“You should meditate, and it’ll be okay.”
“You should work out, and it’ll be okay.”
“You should distract yourself, and it’ll be okay.”
“You should get out more, and it’ll be okay.”
But, even after doing all those things, how can you still be depressed?! “AHH! BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF IT.” “YOU CANNOT JUST SIT IN YOUR DEPRESSION FOREVER.” “YOU CAN’T HOLD ON TO EVERY TRAUMA.” “STOP WITH THE SELF HATRED ALREADY!”
If you cannot help make it better for someone, stop making it worse. Stop trying to fix people and their problems because YOU CAN’T. Your advice and solutions will only push them further away and curl into themselves, which can be destructive for them. If you want to help, be there for them, listen to them, reassure them, tell them you’re proud of them and their efforts, give them daily affirmations. If you want to offer advice and solutions instead just to eradicate ‘the problem’, I suggest you get over your SAVIOUR COMPLEX and your need to fix everything and everyone.