If you have never suffered from depression I don't expect you to
understand it, you can't. That is not meant as a put down, it's just
fact. It's like I cannot understand what it's like to be gay or black
etc. What I can do, is accept that these thing...
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If you have never suffered from depression I don't expect you to
understand it, you can't. That is not meant as a put down, it's just
fact. It's like I cannot understand what it's like to be gay or black
etc. What I can do, is accept that these things that I don't understand
are a part of the world I live in and support those that struggle with
their issues. Depression can be frightening to those that have never had
it. Having the blues and feeling down is something that we all go
through and in no way can be compared to clinical depression. Depression
is hard to describe, but one way it can be expressed is like a Black
Dog. There can be times when that dog will attack, overwhelm, have you
down on the ground ripping at your heart and your throat until you reach
a point that you want to succumb. It is physical pain. Then, when you
receive help, medication, support, you fight back, you tame the dog,
teach it to sit quietly and calmly. Understand though, that the black
dog never dies, it is always there, ready to spring at you again and
attack if it is not kept under control. This is the fear that depression
sufferers feel every single day, that it might attack again, and at
various times it does. It is a skill you need to learn to recognise when
the black dog is stirring, ready to attack. This may sound ridiculous
and fanciful if you haven't been down there, but it is only my
description of it. Be there when you can and listen, don't try to offer
answers, just support. Also recognise please, that if a depression
sufferer is upset, angry, sad, that these emotions are not necessarily
caused by the depression, sometimes we have valid reasons for these
feelings, as does everyone else. Don't look at us and think 'oh it's the
depression' I suffer from depression, yes, but I am not defined by it.
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