Be grateful (guilt speech) ?

[SpiritualGirl]

Often when I suffered from depression I would get that whole

-At least you have food and shelter most people don't have that
-you have education, great possibilities
-being able to turn on water at the tap
-most people don't have a family

etc. etc. etc.

Do people ever give you that speech when you were depressed?

As true as the speech may be, we should appreaciate what we've got did this ever make you feel guilty about being depressed?

I often felt that the person giving me the leacture was sort of like beating a dead horse with a stick, I was never really a damanding type or ungrateful for what i've got, nor ever really asked for more....

But this speech basically says "there are people with worse burdens out there"

Even though thats all true, one still is severally depressed, in some cases to the state of entertaining suicidal thoughts....

This type of speech would really annoy me, or frustrate me because as I said it feels like the leacture is beating a dead horse with a stick...


How do you often respond to this?

Is it a bad thing, to even be depressed? or do you have to sit in a gutter to earn the right to be depressed?

Thanks I needed to vent these thoughts somewhere and wanted to know other peoples views on this

SpiritualGirl

 

[BOJAX]

There are people with very little but they live happy and fulfilling lives because they have God. Conversly, there are those who have plenty but they are without God so they are the furthest thing from TRULY happy. If whoever gave you that lecture didn't tell you about God then don't pay their ramblings any mind. God is the only real cure for depression. Being depressed doesn't mean you are selfish (although selfishness may cause depression) it just means Satan is trying to seperate you from God.

 

[CyberPaladin]

I usually smile and take even though it makes me very angry because the people are usauly members of my church trying to help by giving me perspective. The problem I think is though that like rest society they are overly obessesed with being happy constantly so what to people do they repress there real feelings put on fake "happy face" if will you and allow there real feelings to build up inside.

 

[zmastah]

Also, it seems to me that people who do that really do not understand the true nature of depression, in that it may not necessarily be related to circumstances. In all honesty, I will say that the whole "guilt speech" used to be one of the arrows in my quiver when dealing with people with that, but after actually dating someone who suffers from depression, I have a better understanding on what it is. For some, it is conditional, but for others, it's a chemical imbalance. I'm sure you know this already, but all I can say is that unless someone is familiar with the true nature of what depression is (and actually believes it), then they're probably just not going to understand what's going on. But yes, as Bojax says, God is the only real cure for depression.

 

[Adelheide]

i don't think that speach applies to those who have the sickness of depression. It's a chemical inbalance. It's not about wether or not you're grateful. Feeling guilty is not the way to health. I think if it were as simple as that the world wouldn't be so wrought with it.

and yes God is the only cure for depression. It shows statistically those who are medicated for depression and who see a christian counselor and are involoved in the church and have faith in some thing higher show to be able to get off the medication and stay off of it for good...after about a year of being medicated for it.

 

[appointed]

I dislike these words, even if a person were to follow them, such as "being thankful" it doesn't really help depression. I feel that I am not the richest person, but not poor either. The fact is, if I were rich, powerful, with a good family and a good relationship with God, I would still feel that breathing is bitterness.