Why do people go through depression when they can just be happy?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low. Some people may feel unhappy, sad, distressed, hopeless, or empty. A major depressive episode (MDE) is distinguished by the presence of at least five of these symptoms during the same 2-week period; they cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Such episodes are not substance-induced or better attributable to bereavement, and they cannot be chalked up as normal human experiences (for example, breakups).
Happiness is not so easy because:
1) It seems like you’re saying that happiness is easy but I’m pretty sure it isn’t. You don’t know what life has been like for me. I’ve had so many bad things happen. I don’t know how to be happy anymore.
2) Yes, it may seem easy for you to say “be happy” but there are many people who have suffered so much that their brains can’t imagine happiness even if they try to think about it. For example, some people have gone through trauma or abuse in the past and cannot just “switch” from being sad all the time to suddenly being happy.
3) Not everyone was raised in a good family where they learned good values or had enough food on their plate or clothes that fit them properly. These kinds of experiences shape your thoughts and feelings about life and it’s hard not to think negatively when you’ve been treated poorly by others before who were supposed to look after you.
4) Happiness is hard because I’ve been depressed for so long it’s just become normal for me. When people who are happy say that it’s easy, I think they’re lying. If they were really that happy it would be everywhere and everyone would know about it but they don’t.
5) People with depression cannot just “snap out of it”. It doesn’t work like that and if you honestly believe that then you probably have no idea what living in a depressive episode feels like.
6) Depression isn’t a choice; why should someone be forced to suffer? They can’t stop themselves from being sad even if they try to think positively because their brain chemistry has been affected and they can’t just fix it.
7) There are other things like anxiety and personality disorders that come along with depression. And those conditions make it even harder to find happiness because of other problems that also need to be fixed.
8) People should just try harder, it can’t be that hard.
I’ve tried so many things but it’s not possible for me to just switch my brain off so I can be happy. Everyone has different experiences and different feelings toward their life, happiness, sadness, joy, etc. It feels like you’re saying everyone should feel the same way about something when they clearly don’t. Just because you find happiness easy doesn’t mean other people are lying or trying too hard to justify being depressed. Different people have different struggles in life and sometimes there isn’t anything else. They can do but suffer through it if they refuse to give up on themselves.
Here are some FAQs recently asked:
– Q: Why don’t they just take a pill and get better?
A: Because it’s not that easy. They can’t “just take a pill” and suddenly be happy. It doesn’t work like that and it’s offensive to suggest otherwise. Also, I really doubt you know the life of someone who is depressed. What they’ve been through to get into that place, so please don’t judge them like that. Depression is probably y caused by chemical imbalances in the brain which has been proven true by many studies (a quick Google search will give you some information). Depression affects everyone differently, even in the same family people respond differently. When going through a depressive episode so if one person can find happiness another might not be able to.
– Q: Have they tried therapies like yoga or exercise?
A: Yes, people with depression have tried all kinds of different therapies and it helps some but not everyone. Exercise can help release endorphins which make us feel good. And that is what some people say happiness is (a feeling). But if you were happy then why would you need those kinds of activities in the first place? Not everyone who has depression can “just switch” whenever they want so power to those who refuse to settle for unhappiness. But just because it works for them doesn’t mean it will work for everyone else. And please don’t tell someone with depression to “get over it”.
Conclusion:
People who struggle with depressive episodes should never feel guilty about their struggles. They may need help from a mental health professional. But no one should ever be shamed for struggling with a low mood once in a while. If you have been going through frequent episodes of being unhappy. Without any signs of improvement, please seek medical advice immediately.