In this day and age of rapid communication, there is more information than ever out there about a range of topics. One of the subjects that the internet has opened up to the masses is mental illness, irregularities within the workings of the brain, whether this be a chemical imbalance or physical deviations in expected developments.
However, despite the prevalence of open discussion online regarding mental illness, there are still a vast number of people who simply don’t understand. Sometimes, these people can be close to those suffering from depression, like friends or family members. This disconnect can create significant distress for those with depression and sometimes even create a sizable rift.
This article will go over some basic information you can use when trying to explain depression to someone who just doesn’t understand it. Remember, if you’re suffering from depression, one of the best things you can do is to seek help from a professional with a Masters in Counseling Psychology online, or a similar qualification.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mental illness. It is characterized by many symptoms, the most common of which include a persistent feeling of apathy or sadness, a lack of energy, dissatisfaction with things one previously enjoyed, frequent suicidal or self-harming ideation or behaviors, and more.
It can be difficult to explain, as “depression” sounds rather vague and also describes a common emotional trait. It is important to recognize that although people who don’t suffer from clinical depression can feel “depressed,” having clinical depression is much different. A person experiencing a healthy level of depression will usually do so around an event where it would be expected for someone to become depressed (i.e, the death of a loved one, loss of a job, etc).
Conversely, clinical depression is characterized by a near-constant feeling of apathy. There is rarely a moment where a person is not experiencing a depressed or down mood, and these feelings often stray into dysregulated territory, such as engaging in self-destructive behaviors as coping mechanisms. This is due to the physiological component of clinical depression. It is a difference in brain anatomy and chemistry.
How to Explain it to Someone who Doesn’t Understand
This is the tricky part. Many people can be dismissive of depression and its influence on a person’s life. Explaining depression can be difficult, so here are some basic tips we recommend you use to have the best approach possible.
Start With Some Basic Information
Every journey starts at the beginning, and if you want your person to understand what you deal with, you have to start with the basics. Of course, this may depend on why they don’t understand your depression. Is it a lack of empathy? Is it too technical for them to understand? Did they not speak about mental illness when they were growing up? Before having this talk, try to find the core of what it is that the person is having trouble understanding, then try to approach the conversation in a way that addresses it.
Use Analogies or Metaphors
Mental illness can be difficult to discuss with those around us because it’s all just so ethereal. Describing the torrent of emotions and constant distress that comes with depression can be overwhelming in itself. Try to use analogy and metaphor to turn the ethereal nature of depression into more concrete concepts that are more easily grasped by others on the outside.
Describe the Symptoms
Some people benefit profusely from itemized lists. If your person is one of these people, provide them with a generalized list of clinical depression symptoms, and take them through the ones you experience frequently, as well as examples of how specific symptoms have affected you in the past.
Share Your Personal Experience (How it’s Affected You/Your Life)
This might be a tricky stage to get to. After all, someone who doesn’t understand mental illness isn’t likely to understand or be open to how its symptoms have or are currently affecting you. If depression has you so drained that you can’t get out of bed, a person who doesn’t understand how much depression affects energy levels isn’t likely to be receptive to that information. However, if the person you’re speaking to is amiable and open to the information, sharing your personal experience can help them empathize with your situation.
Encourage Them to Ask
Most commonly, people are resistant to change or new information because it frightens them. Their lack of understanding makes them scared which in turn makes them recoil which deepens their lack of understanding. Opening the floor to them to ask questions allows them to guide the conversation, and allows them to address their lack of understanding in a safe, non-threatening manner.
