Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav
Elphaba123
526 M Embraced 4
PathStep 28 Compassion hearts39 Forum posts8 Forum upvotes14 Current upvotes14 Age GroupAdult Last activeApril, 2017 Member sinceJune 28, 2015
Recent forum posts
Advice on how to deal with people who don't believe depression is a real thing
Depression Support / by Elphaba123
Last post
 April 10th, 2017
...See more I had a huge fight with someone very close to me a few days ago (now have stopped talking mutually) because they kept saying "Don't be sad", "don't be so stressed out", and things like that. I tried to explain to them how that's the same thing as telling someone with cancer to stop having cancer. Then, they started telling me how cancer is totally different because that's a "real thing" and you can actually see the physical symptoms. Apparently, they think depression isn't a real thing and it's something that pharmaceutical companies made up to make money. Because things were getting way too intense even to a level where it was becoming very unhealthy in terms of my mental health, I suggested going to a therapy together so that there's a third person neutrally guiding us through this discussion. But they were arguing that a therapist/phychologist can't be possibly neutral because they are the ones who get to keep their jobs by diagnosing people with depression and other unreal mental illnesses. It's so frustrating and I don't know what to do. As much as I love other parts of this person, I don't think I can deal with this side that thinks what I'm suffering from isn't a real thing. I don't think I can be with someone like this for a long time. Even worse, they even think the scientific research behind depression is all made up; for example, they think the brain scans that show the difference between the depressed and the non-depressed is also exaggerated or something so that doctors and pharmaceutical companies can make money. What do I do with someone like this? How can I get them to be a little more supportive? If anyone can please give me advice on how to be with someone who does not believe depression is a real illness, I will be very grateful. Thank you!
Search more from @Elphaba123
Considering Therapy?
Talk to an expert therapist
Badges & Awards
12 total badges
Hand Shake Linked Chief Chat Honest Voice Lifting Up First Post Reaching out Helping out First Compassion Bundled Group Chimer Strong Bond I
Report an issue