What Are The Most Harmful Cliches?
Topsy
April 28th, 2016
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People struggling with depression or mental illness often encounter others who want to feel like they already have all the answers. Rather than listening and offering support, people often turn to cliches as a way of dismissing depression and its consequences.
What cliches do you find most harmful?
Examples include "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" (implying that depression is a choice and those who suffer it and simply too lazy to try) and "life is what you make it" (as though everyone from the depressed to homeless children living in third world landfills are causing their own life circumstances.)