Dear Mr. Andrew Tate,

The effect of opinions like yours contributes to the suicide rate. No one has any right to belittle someone else’s suffering. This perspective is the type of thing that prevents people from getting the help that they desperately need.

Just because you haven’t experienced something doesn’t mean that it isn’t real. Sadness is a normal human emotion. Depression is a mental state that effects thinking, emotions, behaviors, and perception. Your life doesn’t need to be “depressing” to be depressed. People don’t wake up saying, “I think I am going to be depressed today.” No matter how hard some people try, they cannot find happiness. No, depression is not based on the status of your lifestyle. Thanks for trying.

What does a “fat lonely man, aged 60” have to do with anything right now? Depression can happen to anyone. Even the most “beautiful” people can have a mental illness.

This is such an inaccurate statement. Most depressed people work twice as hard as those who happiness comes naturally to. People who are depressed are in a constant battle with themselves and their thoughts, yet continue on to try to live as “normal” of a life as they can. People with depression go to school, have jobs, have a family, the same as people who aren’t. But not only do people with depression do all of the things “normal” people do, but they do it while dealing with their inner demons that are telling them to give up on everything. Depression is not laziness. That simple.

I don’t think anyone has ever claimed to “catch” depression. Just because it is an illness that you cannot see from the outside doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. Some days it is physically and mentally exhausting just to force yourself to get out of bed, but you still do it. Having depression in no way ‘absolves all responsibility.’ In fact, it adds responsibility because you have to take precautionary steps to protect yourself (such as going to therapy, creating a safety plan, etc.), to force yourself to do things when all you want to do is give up, and you have to make sure you are finding the right meds and are taking them. As I stated before, sadness and depression are different, so your argument is not valid.

Hi, my name is Lauren Schugg. I had above a 4.0 GPA all through high school, I gave a Ted Talk, I got into the university I wanted to (and was awarded a scholarship), I have friends and a family, I have had jobs and internships, I’m lots of fun, and I really am not sure that I have any true “failures.” But guess what; I do have depression. I am not ashamed to say that, and I have never used depression to justify my actions. It is a serious and scary thing, not a way to justify any supposed “failures” you think I have had.

I will never admit to you being right because you aren’t. I work harder than so many people I know, and I still have depression. Depression is a thing and your ignorant comments really show that you are uneducated in the field of mental health.

Once again, I think you are thinking of the word ‘sadness’ not depressed. It is natural to feel sad. Depression is an abnormal emotional state, and emotional states are not something you can satisfy by eating a burger, sorry.

You can have the ideal diet, the best exercise routine imaginable, and a purpose in life and still be depressed. P.S. anti-depressants can help and have actually saved lives.

I’m so glad that you are happy. I guess ignorance really is bliss. It’s not ironic that people think someone saying the things you are saying should be EDUCATED. No one is telling you to go into a spiraling depression to the point where you want to end your own life. They are saying to have an open-mind and not belittle someone else’s struggles. How lucky of you to be so perfect that you can look down on things that you don’t understand.

First of all “suck to lose at life” sounds like a comeback a middle schooler would get high-fives for. Secondly, just because a person is depressed does not mean that they suck at anything. Even the people with ideal lives can be depressed. It is not a life style, it’s a mental illness.

It isn’t really a “world view” you are talking about. You are expressing an uneducated idea about mental health. Never in my life would I ever want to try thinking like you. Why would I want to think like a misinformed and arrogant person who flaunts their extreme ideas, which could potentially harm someone on, social media?

Want to know why they say it can’t be helped? BECAUSE IT CAN’T BE. I have struggled with my own thoughts for years. I fight these demons within myself every day. Try as I might, but with every positive thought comes three negatives. Attempting to change your mindset does not make these looming thoughts just disappear.

*Sad, temporarily being sad is real. Imbalanced brain chemistry is real. It has been theorized, researched, and now studied. Just because the science behind depression is not fully understood, doesn’t mean that it isn’t real.

I’m glad that there are people who don’t ever have to experience depression. I would not wish this struggling and pain on even my worst enemy. It is awful to be depressed enough that someone wants to end their own life, and your negative comments are the types of things that dissuade people from getting help and push them over the edge.

Some people are able to find the right coping skills that they need to power through difficult times. Other people have difficulties coping under regular circumstances let alone under stressful ones. It is not pathetic. What is pathetic, though, is demeaning other people just because you don’t understand what it is like. I have no words for people who respond to someone's pain with "take it like a man." That is the most outdated argument you could even attempt to have.

There are so many different types of strength, and the kind I have is infinitely more powerful than the kind you have. Muscles may be physical strength, but dealing with depression and continuously fighting even though people like you like to kick others while they are down is a lot more important.

Therefore, Mr. Andrew Tate, you need to open your eyes and look around. You are not the only person in this world. People have feelings and you need to respect that. Different people struggle with different things. You are no different. I am sure you have inner demons, but unlike me, you refuse to face the. Instead, you ridicule others. Realize that words do hurt people and can even kill them.

Sincerely,

The Depressed Girl Who Just Destroyed Your Attempt At An Argument