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Re:I will never not talk about my depression by bigwavedave on Thursday June 17, 2021 @04:07PM (#27543996)
> Wow, I wish I could just go on sick leave for 4 months because I was feeling depressed...

Well... If you're indeed depressed, I wish for that too.

However, if you're actually healthy and just making a snarky comment, then I hope you never experience depression- it's hell. No amount of descriptive imagery or keen adjectives can ever convey what it actually feels like, so I understand how people who've never been in its jaws can be so dismissive. After all, just like it's hard to tell that stuffed inside a ballerina's blood-filled shoes are cramped, broken, _aching_ feet, it's hard to wrap your head around pain that isn't readily seen, much less try to empathize with the person feeling it.

The only way I can think of to describe depression is to describe suicidal ideation: when you have a moment, go to your garage, get a hammer, and smash your thumb with it. Not a pleasant thought, right? I'd be willing to bet that if you were to legitimately try, you'd find it almost impossible; the instinct for self preservation is one of the most basic, powerful instincts. Now, imagine a situation where you're in so much pain that this instinct is completely overwhelmed and you actively try to kill yourself to stop it, a situation where you cannot believe you'll ever be able to be happy again, a situation that feels truly hopeless.

That's depression. While suicidal ideation is one of the extremes, depression is something that drives a person to that point.

In all honesty, I sincerely hope neither you nor your loved ones ever have to face such despair. "That they experienced loss is not a gain, and that they experienced pain is not a victory."

But hey, I'm just some guy on the internet- YMMV.

Re:I will never not talk about my depression by t0mbstone on Thursday June 17, 2021 @07:29PM (#27545615)
I'm actually depressed, and have been for years. Working remotely in a room by myself for the last year hasn't helped.

I haven't had a real vacation (more than a week or so of time off) in years.

I have less than 2 weeks worth of PTO sick time accrued. I genuinely wish I had the option of taking 4 months of paid sick leave for mental health reasons. I'm pretty sure that would help me reset my mental state.