Pain Is Pain, Regardless Of Other People's Circumstances

Pain is pain. Another person's pain does not affect the level of your pain. Having tough situations to deal with does not in any way minimize another person's tough situation.

So many times I hear the argument, "Well this person has it worse than you." This argument is bullshit. Yes, you should be thankful for the good things in your life, but just because you have good things doesn't mean the bad things can't be upsetting or have an effect on your life.

Right now the argument clogging up my Facebook newsfeed is Americans marching in the Women's Marches. People are trying to argue that because women in other parts of the world are suffering from violence and discrimination, we should stop fighting for our rights in America because we have it better.

Yes, clearly we have it better in a country where girls aren't forced to get married at a very young age to men three times as old as them. Yes, clearly we have certain privileges. And yes, we should be fighting for women of all circumstances in every corner of this earth.

But just because women in other countries have other issues doesn't mean women in America can't have issues. Women should not put up with injustices just because they're "not as bad" as injustices that other women face.

This is an issue with mental health as well. Some people who suffer from depression but who have a loving family and are typically considered to have a "good life" are told that they shouldn't be depressed because of that good life. And yes, it is true that having a loving family and a lack of having to worry about money are both amazing things. But depression doesn't discriminate. A person with a "good life" can suffer from depression just as badly as people who have worse life circumstances.

This "who has it worse" mentality absolutely needs to change. People think it's okay to stop progress — political or personal — simply because they have it "better" than others.

Another person's pain does not affect the level of your pain. Everyone's feelings are valid. Pain is pain.