So often when seeking support, we aren’t really sure how to explain what we are dealing with. It seems that the more we discuss our depression or illness, the less those we seek support from understand. People with depression are often told to “snap out of it”, “get over it”, or “just find something that makes you happy.”
If it were that easy, NO ONE would be depressed.
Sabrina Benaim performs a spoken word piece called “Explaining my Depression to my Mother”.
Its very expressive, and a very accurate picture of what is like trying to explain depression to someone who has never had it.
Can you relate? I know that I can. I always feel like I am having to explain to others why I feel the way I feel. Justifying why I find it hard to look on the “bright side”. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me that I need to think positive, I would be a billionaire.
The last part where she says, “Mom says I don’t understand. … Neither do I.” That, that is the part I wish people knew. I wish people understood that as much as I know about my disorder, there is still so much that I don’t. I am learning to navigate differently every day. Its like continuing education classes, or CPE credits to maintain a license. I am never done, I will never know it all, and every now and then the rules are going to change. Bare with us as we learn.