When you suffer from depression, you’ll realize just how much people love giving unwanted advice. Often with the best intentions, people will try to give you their top tips on how to cure your depression – without realizing you have heard all those things before. A million times.
Here are 10 things depressed people are really tired of hearing.
1. “So many people have it worse than you”
Great, now I feel extra guilty about being depressed.
2. “It’s all in your head”
As if I don’t question my own sanity enough already.
3. “You don’t look depressed”
What does a depressed person even look like? But you’re right, I’m not crying my eyes out 24/7, if that’s what you were thinking.
4. “We all have bad days”
Sure, we do, but let’s not compare the bad day you may have once in a while with the all-encompassing numbness that is my depression.
5. “Just get over it”
Thank you so much, you just cured me. I wish somebody had told me this sooner.
6. “Maybe you should work out more”
I can barely make it to the end of the street most days, but sure.
7. “I know how you feel”
This is a tricky one because yes, some people do know how you feel. But most people don’t, and even if they do, it’s not a very helpful statement.
8. “Have you tried yoga/mindfulness/camomile tea?”
Yes, I have. No, it didn’t work.
9. “You need to think positive thoughts”
The inability to do that is kind of the whole problem, isn’t it?
10. “Happiness is a choice”
For some people, it really, really isn’t.
There you have it: 10 things you really shouldn’t say to a depressed person. We know you mean well, but sometimes silence really is golden.