Advice on how to deal with people who don't believe depression is a real thing

@Elphaba123

First of all, I sympathise with you. This sounds like a nightmarishly frustrating situation.

I see different ways for you to go now. You could, after a time of calming down and having your respective pace try to agree to disagree and maybe - no forcing- promise to be more aware of the others sentiment.

I liked your Idea to have this discussion mediated, maybe there are other, non-therapists, who are willing to do so? We have a talk-café, which is run by a local church. They are however perfectly willing not to bring beliefs up, if you don't want to.

Thirdly I hope, that the person in question comes around. Maybe this was a denial guided reaction, for himself or someone close to him... Not sure what implications of that are, to be honest.

I dont know if any of this helped. With a person in my life, that behaves simmilarly we just don't bring it up, since it erupts in instant accusations. On the other hand hyperbole-and-a-half's blogpost depression part I helped my current partner to see my shutting off for what it was.

I hope you figure something out :)

Your post really hit home with me because I go through this a lot with various people in my life- my husband especially. He can be wonderful sometimes, but he has absolutely no understanding of mental illness. He gets mad and tells me "I wish I could just choose to be sad all week so I wouldn't have to do anything".... and other crappy comments like that. It hurts so bad when people act like we have control over the illness, and that it isn't a "real" thing. I wish I knew what to tell you to help the other person understand. I personally have tried printing articles on depression (and my other illnesses) and asking my husband to read them. We have had lengthy discussions about it all. We went to a therapist once together, and I felt like he was actually trying to fake out the therapist by acting all understanding....

The thing is, for me anyway n maybe for you too, we need our feelings, and our illnesses, to be validated. And when people we are closest to say things like "just get over it" they don't understand how painful it can be. I don't think they are trying to be mean- it's just that this is hard on them too, and many people don't know how to react. I wonder if it would help if you tried finding a support group for people who are close to people with depression? Or maybe a printout guide or something? Just a thought. I hope you find the answers you're looking for!