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7 Things You Should Never Say to Someone Who is Depressed (and What to Say Instead)
Okay, I’ve been battling major depression for many years now.
At first, I thought it was seasonal, but as my life progressed, it became clear that it wasn’t. My depression became more intense each year. In some cases, I have felt profoundly debilitated by it; yet, in other cases, I feel unexpectedly hopeful. Either way, this has been a long road, and certainly not an easy one.
And I’m not alone. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), nearly 1 of every 12 Americans suffers from depression — and for women, that average doubles to about 1 in every 6. (And these are just the cases that are diagnosed and counted towards the statistic!) That means depression is a pretty common condition. So why do people keep asking ignorant questions or making toxically positive remarks about how people choose to cope with their depression?
Here are 7 of these ignorant, toxic narratives. And they are 7 things you should never, never say to someone who is suffering from depression.
1. Don’t worry, it will get better!
OK, really? This is what you’re going to say to someone who feels inexplicably hopeless or sad or numb? It’s futile to tell someone with depression that things will…
