Depression is becoming more and more common and it is different for everyone who has it. Some people are active and love to be around other people, but some people prefer to stay indoors and in smaller groups or alone. That's okay. Depression is also a range. Just because your daughter had depression and fixed it by making minor lifestyle changes doesn't mean that works for everyone. It can be short term or chronic and everyone's treatment plan looks different. Please stop giving us these suggestions--chances are, we've heard them 100 times.
1. PLEASE stop telling us we just need to take a shower and put on some makeup or literally any other Tumblr "self-care" advice
Fixing up our outer appearance doesn't fix our depression and it may use the only two spoons we have left (if you don't know the spoon theory, please go look it up). Some people with depression shower three or four times a day--taking another shower is not going to help.
2. No, we do not want to try your expensive essential oils
Essential oils, no matter how "pure" do not cure depression. Bottom line. For me, they just cause migraines.
3. Auntie Karen has something coming for her if she tells me to "get over it" one more time
Depression is an illness. You cannot "get over" depression just like you cannot "get over" a broken leg. If you still say this, you need to take a seat because this has been proven 101 times.
4. We don't need Jesus
Believe it or not, religious people get depression too and their depression is not caused by a lack of faith. And people who are not religious don't need Jesus to cure them of their depression (same goes for every other illness or disability). We don't hate religious people. We just don't want to hear it. If you find comfort in prayer, power to you. But it is not necessary to force Jesus on others.
5. We know what is best for us
Most of us have a trusted medical team and we are managing the best we can. We would like our advice to come from the professionals just like any other person with an illness wants their medical advice to come from professionals.
Note: please apply these to any other illness, disease, or disability--we do not need your unsolicited advice.
