(December 30, 2015 at 10:17 am)robvalue Wrote: Another thing that can be hard to understand...
I've found it quite possible to both be completely in love my wife and as happy as I can be with our relationship, yet I'm still so depressed I want to die. For someone who doesn't get this, she could take that very personally. But I explained it to her in detail, and she does understand. The depression is not a logical, objective assessment of the condition of your life. It's an illness. So I urge anyone who knows a depressed person not to wonder why "they aren't enough" for them to be happy. It's just not like that.
Communication, I would say, is the key. It's amazing my wife stuck by me, and she said it wouldn't have been possible had I not been totally open and honest. The instinct of the depressed person can be to push everyone away, but that's the worst thing you can do. I've realized that it wants you isolated, so it has you to itself.
This advice and insight is pure gold, seriously. SO many people tell depressed people to 'suck it up,' or 'get over it,' or 'look at your life, it's awesome.' It's just not like that, agree. Hugs.
