Depression doesn’t have preference.

[angxlicc]

I hate it when people say you can't be depressed just because you might have a good life or family. Depression doesn't have " preference " with who it chooses to accompany.

who agrees?

 

[Brick In The Wall]

I definitely agree. There are people who have fame, status, wealth, power and are still depressed or decide to end it.

 

[Bct]

Can't agree more with you. Even though I generally have a bad life, I can sympathize how hard it must be for people who have a good life yet they're depressed. Most likely they feel guilty to have that feeling.

 

[itsamadworld]

I have a good life, but I work for it. And I feel resentments that I cannot just have money. Not becuz I'm lazy, (though I have my moments), but I just am so overwhelmed in the workforce...depressed, angry, burned out, ..every day I say, I'm gonna put in my notice to quit....so the fear of both the haves and the have-nots never ends.... because in this life.... nothing is certain, except taxes and death....that's why I look forward to death...to not have to deal with the hassle of life anymore...glad I never put a child here....this system is oppression to me!

 

[anorexic-pigeon]

I'm young. 19. Both parents (divorced) are well off. Both have mental illness. Mom has borderline personality disorder and anxiety, dad has schizophrenia and bipolar. Guess which side I got? Dad. Now I'm stuck with mood episodes and psychosis and I feel immense guilt that I even suffer from it. My parents keep urging me to get a job but it's so damn hard. I attempt suicide every few months and can't hold down a job because of that. So now I'm the mentally ill adult who never grew up and relies on mommy and daddy to support me. It feels humiliating. My older sister goes to USC for biomedical engineering. My twin has a job and already moved out. And my little sister at least has direction. Why did I have to be the sick one?

 

[Mr2005]

Depression favours the intelligent.

 

[Quarky00]

I disagree .

Depression and suicide are well researched. While it's true that anyone is susceptible, and I find that statement ("you can't have depression") disgusting! -- it does hurt some people more than others. So I'm on your side;) I just disagree with the title

If you are physically healthy , well-off , have a supportive healthy family -- you're chances of being depressed are extremely lower compared to other "life situations" . That doesn't mean that it cannot affect you severely even if you have all those things.

It's like seat belts and accidents: wear one and you're less likely to get seriously hurt, but that doesn't guarantee full safety; people wearing seat belts get hurt and die. And saying that statement to you is like going to a disabled person after an accident and saying: "you can't be disabled because you had a seat belt on". It's very offensive, ignorant, and hurtful.

I always say 20/80 is the ratio, majority of suicides are avoidable and caused by distressing life circumstance that lack support and assistance. (that's what research shows). I wouldn't ignore the other 20%.

 

[Whited Sepulchre]

Depression is like Death.
It comes knocking at everyone's doorstep.
It takes hold of us one day, one way or another eventually.

 

[FireFox]

There lots of factors that led to people say this.

1) Culture: My parents are immigrants where as i was born in the UK . My parernts come from one of these african countries . I am not going to reveal too much about my family as i prefer not to. My mum came from a country in which you have to pay to go school( primary and secondary), no welfare state, starvation etc, extreme poverty . My mum thinks people in the west have it easy unlike in africa where she came from. She acutally says this to me . My nan says there is "no depression in africa"
If you are child of immigrant parents your parents go through so hardship in thier home countries and defy the odds to make it in a foregin country.This is why find it hard sympathaise with people who have depression espically if they have good lives .

I dont bother talking to my family about my feelings this is why i came to this site.

2) People own experiences with hardship: There are people in life who go through hardship but overcome it . Some of these people have this attitude of "i can surivive it so can you" or may favourite " i had x problems but did not turn out this way"
People forget everyone is different in terms of they cope.

3) Social conditioning : Growing up we are always told life is a cycle of go to school , get a job, get married and children and then die . People will naturally assume if you a good job, a family and a loving relationship what is there to depressed to be about after all you have everything .

I still believe if i had a job, a boyfriend, place of my own my sucidial thoughts and depressive thoughts will go away because i will feel more wanted and needed .

4) Some people dont understand depression. Depression is difficult to understand hence why i ulimatlely told the drs i am fine now and no longer sucidial. They believe i have recovered.

I found it diffcult to deal with my diagnois and hence started lying about my recovery .

I am very functional which is why can not relate to people who cant get out of bed because of the depression.
I have days where i feel too normal but then feel sucidal.
I am not sad all the time so i cant have it right?
I dont want to be me anymore.

5) No one cares about your problems and dont want to help you so this is a nice way of them telling you to shut up

 

[Slow85]

Everyone can have depression - mental illness isn't discriminatory, you're right there but as above mentioned there are social , lifestyle - environmental factors that will naturally mean that those who are living a more 'comfortable ' life style will be less susceptible to depression and or other mental illness

I can't speak for other countries but certainly here in the U.K. having a healthier bank balance would also mean be able to access better care and support for depression / mental illness than those that have to wait on waiting lists for years in crisis.

That being said - I wouldn't ever say 'you can't be depressed because you are rich / famous etc ' it's like the saying ' different boat same storm '