Why is talking about having depression almost like talking about a taboo subject?

Honestly, and this is just me personally, I think that everyone deals with depression at some point or another but the emotional vulnerability is such that it is embarrassing in our current society. We are taught from a very young age that emotions are wrong. "Suck it up" "Man up!" "Be a lady" "Quit crying, you have nothing to cry about." "Are you upset AGAIN??" So we are conditioned that emotions that make us sad are wrong. Depression then, must be, by this gauge, just the most horrible of things and we should never talk about it or admit it. But those that have owned depression, openly talk about it, and can empathize with ourselves, we are tools for others as well as we can talk to them without fear. Self acceptance and acceptance of others will lead you.

Many people feel too uncomfortable to hear about depression...it makes them feel awkward, embarrassed and they may struggle with whether to believe the sufferer's words or decide that they are making a mountain out of a molehill. Depression is deep and personal to the individual. It might be impossible for one person to find the vocabulary to describe what is in their head or to present a verbal image that can convey the depth and breadth of their hopelessness. It is a taboo subject because it is not for casual conversation...it is not for passing the time with someone. People may dismiss the topic because they truly have no understanding of what it means or because they are frightened of the enormity of what it can mean. Many might believe that taking tablets is a 'cure' and that should be an end to it. It can be scary to enter a conversation on depression if the listener feels ill-equipped to face the subject or doesn't want to feel 'trapped' in a conversation he/she doesn't have time for. Some may believe it is a subject only for the professionals. Others will get frustrated if the sufferer cannot or will not act upon advice that is given. It is a subject that many feel is best avoided in the hope it will go away not understanding that it never just 'goes away' from the sufferer.

My guess is that this is mainly because of a lack of education and ignorance surrounding this topic. It is difficult to say where it comes from, it is difficult to deal with, and despite well intentions, people who are trying to help are just as clueless as those who directly suffer from it. I feel depression is often confused with negative attitude, being lazy and other things that are considered as 'bad' in a fast paced society in which success, health and happiness are depicted everywhere, without having sufficient attention for hardships, growth, difficulties and the sad and downright horrible moments of life. I think depression is not necessarily about negative emotions, as much as it is about a lack of emotions althogether. Most people are scared to deal with such a frightening void afraid they might get consumed by it. I hope the community here will be able to talk about depression in an open and understanding way.

because depression can be misunderstood as a feeling and not a legitimate illness. we are often told to "get over it" , or told we arent making any effort to change .

May be it's because talking about depression show our weak self to others and exposing our own mind to someone else. It's very difficult for people to do this. Also, very few people can bear to listen problems of others and give a empathetic response. Theses reasons along with other few might have contributed to this subject becoming a taboo in society. Although in modern times , the scenario is changing and more and more awareness is getting spread. For examples out home 7cups.com :).

Nowadays people are not ready to talk about mental illness properly because they know nothing about mental illnesses. Having no knowledge leads to stereotypical thinking, so thus we have: people think that depression is like sadness and it`s weakness, but it`s not. Spread knowledge, so you yourself will be heard correctly.

People do not understand it is a real problem to deal with. telling a person with depression to get over it or to get happy is like telling a person in a wheelchair to just get up and walk.

Because people think depression is just attention seeking! On the other hand, some people truly know what it is, but don't have the wish to go into it. You can be that one funny guy, make jokes and everything for years, but the second you say "Hey, you know, I actually feel like shit" people go away. It's not their problem. If more people listened and helped, the world would be a better place.

Depression is something that is difficult to understand for people who do not suffer from it. Because they do not experience the fight with their own brain it is hard to explain what it feels like to not be in control of your own emotions. Because it is an "invisible illness" it makes people uneasy to talk about it, mostly because society has built depression up into something much larger than it really is. Try to stop thinking of depression as something taboo for yourself, if you have it, you have it and it is a part of your life. There is nothing to be ashamed of. The more you learn about the illness the easier it will be for you to manage and even explain to others so they have more of an insight on the illness.

Because it's stigmatized and not taked about enough. A lot of people don't know the truth about it, some don't know anything at all.