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Okay, I admit that I am not a very compassionate person, and so I take a rather harsh approach to people who make excuses because they "don't feel like" doing something. Depression is NOT like having a very serious physical disease in which either the disease or its treatment means that the person is actually physically unable to get out of bed. (I've had periods of depression myself, but I would never ever think or say that depression was as bad as having cancer.)
Sure, sometimes just getting out of bed might require almost a superhuman effort for a depressed person, but if s/he HAD to get out of bed (for example if a child or pet in the home was screaming in pain), in most cases, s/he would. The crucial question for me regarding the OP would be if it was an occasional depressive episode, or whether this happened frequently and almost always felt like they were just making excuses because they just didn't want to be bothered to socialize with a friend and simply preferred to be alone that day, which would be fine. I would actually have more respect for someone who would be honest about that than someone who comes across as just looking for pity.
I agree with some of this. For the record, I have had both - cancer and Major Depressive Disorder - and they are both quite physical, so I do disagree with you in that regard. However, I agree with you about doing what you "have to" when you have to. I have suffered MDD most of my life, and sometimes (most times) I just want to be alone. It doesn't mean I "can't" go out, it means I usually don't want to and prefer to be home with my cats rather than out with people. Sometimes we may make plans because supposedly it is "healthier" to try to go out and socialize, but is it? If we just want to be home, is it really healhier to try to go out? It is also not fair to the people with whom we cancel plans. But in the throes of MDD (or any other illness), we are not necessarily thinking along those lines. We just want to feel better.
I agree with some of this. For the record, I have had both - cancer and Major Depressive Disorder - and they are both quite physical, so I do disagree with you in that regard.
However, I agree with you about doing what you "have to" when you have to. I have suffered MDD most of my life, and sometimes (most times) I just want to be alone. It doesn't mean I "can't" go out, it means I usually don't want to and prefer to be home with my cats rather than out with people. Sometimes we may make plans because supposedly it is "healthier" to try to go out and socialize, but is it? If we just want to be home, is it really healhier to try to go out? It is also not fair to the people with whom we cancel plans. But in the throes of MDD (or any other illness), we are not necessarily thinking along those lines. We just want to feel better.
I agree, Eeko...
With all you mentioned.
MDD IS indeed a disease with physical symptoms.
And I am one who also prefers being home with cats as a good day.
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