Reality

One of the biggest hypocrisies in today's western society, is the ignorance of Depression.
People regularly say they don't understand Depression because they haven't experienced it, and it's "invisible".

Firstly, tons of diseases are very well understood regardless of experience (cancer, heart disease, diabetes...)

Secondly, Depression is one of THE MOST visible diseases out there. When a person isolates, when they miss work, lose interest in what they used to enjoy, avoid relationships, etc...

When those signs occur, most reasonable people would say something is obviously "up", and most would acknowledge that those are symptoms of Depression.

Yet, despite the relative simplicity of it, practically no one would openly mention the possibility of it being Depression. "He's just in a funk", "She'll snap out of it", "If it is Depression, i don't know what to do, I've never had it"...The excuses are endless.

At the same time, one can bring up the topic of Depression in a conversation, and a vast array of opinions will arise. "Drug companies are pushing pills just to make money", "Doctors and Psychiatrists don't know what their talking about"...Isn't it ironic that when confronted with the possibility of Depression to someone near we're ignorant about it, yet talk about it in a larger context, and we have tons of opinions.

With all these contradictions, and apparent disinterest in direct involvement, imagine how it makes a person suffering from Depression feel.

It is often said that Depression sufferers (especially men) "don't talk about it". Considering the "ignorance" about it, why would we talk about it? Add to that the fact that if we ARE Depressed, one of the main messages out there is that we're encouraging the drug companies.

Depression is a complex disease, that doesn't mean it's not a disease or that it's not understandable.

This is 2008, communication, and knowledge has never been better (in this part of the world). When we "don't know" something, we're CHOOSING ignorance.

Everything can be taught, learned, and comprehended.

Stay tuned for more.