Posted by cubbybear on June 20, 2003, at 2:12:01
In reply to Re: People not understanding Major Depression » Sabina, posted by brian green on June 20, 2003, at 1:22:20
I once read a great post here from someone who really hit the nail on the head. Basically, it goes like this: In our culture, you'll get attention and sympathy if people can SEE a tangible sign of your suffering, e.g. a cast on your broken leg, a blood-stained handkerchief on your forehead, or stitches. They can readily identify with physical aches and pains and the things we wear or apply to the body to treat those aches and pains. Even a big scratch on your arm with an iodine stain elicits the question, "What happened to your arm?!?" But if the suffering is inside the mind where it is invisible, and/or the other person has never experienced it, there's very little open-mindedness and empathy. In the ultimate form, mental illness becomes a stigma, and when that happens, the so-called "normal" people regard YOU as unsociable, a crybaby, a nutcase.
Supportive family and friends, which I've been fortunate to have, can make all the difference in the world. And I won't forget some wonderful, caring people on this board during my blackest hours.
poster:cubbybear
thread:235211
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030619/msgs/235332.html