How to Explain Depression/Anxiety to a Non Believer

[blondguy]

Hello Everyone! and any new posters too!

Having had depression and anxiety for over 30 years explaining the illness whether to a boss, partner or family member can be difficult. I have seen numerous people post desperate to find a way to explain it to people that just don't understand. Even worse is explaining depression to
ignorant people that think we should just 'snap out of it' and 'move forward'

I have a couple that have worked

• In Business When I have had a boss that has a closed mind I have told them 'its like claustrophobia without the closed in spaces'
• Family Member non believer. I have explained it as 'Diabetes of the Brain' as there is a chemical link. 'Invisible Crutches' also works

A Community Champion on the forums mentioned to copy the info under 'The Facts' (or Supporting Someone with depression) print it and provide a copy to the person that is trying but cant understand depression. A fabulous idea!

Lastly we have the people that tell us to 'snap out of it' and wont listen or even try to understand....I find communicating the following to them can 'wake them up'..............

'Depression is a serious illness........just like diabetes or heart disease

Expecting positive thinking to cure depression is like expecting a person with diabetes to lower their blood sugar level by thinking happy thoughts'

The name (noun) of this illness 'depression' is a failure of the english language as we know it. The illness is badly named, inaccurate and gives no justice to the severity of the illness and its symptoms.

There are many people that read the Beyond Blue Forums and choose not to post which is fine. There are also many people on the forums that may find your advice beneficial too! If you have any ways of 'Explaining depression' when people give you that 'there is really nothing wrong with you look' please do share any knowledge or advice so we can help others find some peace in their lives

Thankyou for reading my post 🙂

Kind Thoughts

Paul

[TheSteve]

Great post Paul. I always equated depression to being "trapped" in, or by, one's own mind. Imagine a cage being put around your thoughts and feelings, and not being able to look beyond the bars. That is one way.

Another to me was the "emotional amplification" of one's thoughts. A normal mind can think a thought, and nothing happens. A depressed mind can think a thought, and sometimes literally feel a negative amplification of that thought (you can't put your finger on what it is, just that is is most unpleasant) through your body, brain to toes, and then have a lasting impression of that horrid feeling.

I hope this helps.

Steve

[Guest_5218]

Hi Paul. As usual with you, another great thread.

I must admit that I have never actually tried to explain my anxiety to anybody. I have always kept the issue hidden as much as possible, and certainly never talk of it.

However, the information contained in this thread will be very useful if I ever get the courage to talk of it with anyone other than my psych or GP. So I will be following this with much interest.

Thanks Paul.

Sherie xx

[Cameragirl]

Thanks Paul for the post.

When people tell me they have depression/anxiety, I always tell them that looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical health, if not more so. I'm taking my own advice now as well. If you can relate your depression/anxiety to something that other people can relate to: eg, you look after your heart, why not your brain, that normally puts things into perspective for others who may not relate to your problem.

[blondguy]

Hey Steve🙂 Thankyou for responding....'trapped in by one's own mind' is good..as well as the "emotional amplification" of one's thoughts. A
normal mind can think a thought, and nothing happens. A depressed mind
can think a thought, and sometimes literally feel a negative
amplification of that thought " Emotional Amplification......thats a huge help Steve.....Cheers...Paul

Hey Sherie , Thankyou for your response and kind feedback 🙂 I hear you loud and clear...Its taken me years to tell my postie let alone talk freely about it. We both seem to have 'invisible crutches' sometimes Sheriexx

[blondguy]

Hi CG (if I can abbreviate?:-)

Thanks for responding! Thats a kind and smart way to articulate it for sure..Information like yours will make it easier for sufferers to tell people without depression how serious it really is......Paulx (NikonP900 user)

[Cameragirl]

CG is fine with me.😁 Nikon all the way.😉

[blondguy]

You are a legend CG...:-) Paulx

[Marcsa]

Hi,

I wonder people's thoughts - if a family member is depressed or anxious and friends kind of, after a time start dismissing the depressed person. Saying things to the effect of "they're just being lazy, using it as an excuse". Is this plain old deliberate non-understanding of depression.? Is it a reaction to the exhaustive hearing the same stories over and over? I was a bit taken aback when someone in my close circle of friends basically told me they thought my son was lazy and 'putting it on' in order not to do anything. I know this person (my friend) feels I am a 'soft touch' as regards my son, but this commentary was a bit ...well...unhelpful. Yet I know it's burdensome to hear me complain a lot of the time and partly because I find it hard to have 'hard' conversations with my son. Yes, he suffers from depression.

[AJ2014]

If only we could share links...