Hello,

I just wanted to make a statement regarding depression to TRP community. People frequently come here talking about depression as one of the main hinderances in their lives. The typical response is something along the lines of, "Depression is just your body's way of telling you that you are a lazy slob and you need to do something with your life."

Unfortunately, it's not always that simple, and responding that way to someone who truly suffers from the disorder only makes it worse. You certainly would not tell someone with cancer that their brain tumor is the result of them not reading enough books or lifting enough weights. The complex nature of mental illness makes it much more difficult to understand and progress in the field is still in its infancy. However, we know enough about depression to know that it's not simply a flaw in someone's personality.

The disorder often has a clear genetic lineage that can be traced back through multiple generations. Sufferers typically have a phenotypic variation in central monoamine function. These individuals are unable to properly metabolize, or produce neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin, the chemicals associated with motivation, a general interest in life, and feelings of fulfillment. Symptoms can come out of nowhere in otherwise happy individuals who have clear life goals and live healthy lifestyles.

While it's true, some people who exhibit depressive symptoms can work through them with exercise and proper diet, this is often not the case. I'm just asking that people who aren't trained in the field of psychiatry/psychology to avoid making personal attacks on people who admit to symptoms associated with depression, and instead recommend that they speak with a professional who can properly asses their mental health. After all, we are all in this together, and I'd hate to see someone lose their fight because someone who really just wants to help, gave poor, unsubstantiated medical advice.

Thanks for taking the time to consider this!

Edit: Yup...shoulda saw that coming.