While I completely understand the message this is going for and generally agree, I find it hard to place blame on the corset lady. There are people who do genuinely think that their depression, if they’ve had it for longer and have reacted to it more severely, is the only kind of depression. Kind of like when people look at people who just get sad over normal things and get irked about it when they say “I got fired today, I’m depressed about it.” Makes me wonder just how relative depression severities really are.
If you voluntarily check yourself into a facility, then go over the wall one night cuz they lost your debit card when they admitted you, is it considered escaping? Its not like I was held there against my will…
I can, as well. Depressed character #16 is very clearly in the wrong here, but it’s not because there aren’t some people out there who genuinely misdiagnose themselves as having clinical depression for the sake of being more ‘mysterious’ or ‘interesting’ or whatever. It’s more because flat out telling someone else they can’t claim to be [I]truly[/I] depressed until they have X number of meds/suicide attempts/hospitalizations/whatever is a dick move. Like the comic says, it’s not a damn competition.
When someone tells me they have clinical depression, I don’t necessarily always think that’s true, but I do always err on the side of believing them. Mostly because telling a genuinely depressed person their depression ‘doesn’t count’ is a whole lot more damaging than the alternative.
Protagonist girl also says nasty things sometimes. The moral of those stories is: understand that she’s having a very difficult time. Why wouldn’t apply to friend-girl? Of course her response to the content is hurtful. But it’s a typical response of someone who’s been in treatment for years without feeling that she’s being heard or that theres any kind of improvement at all.
I am a miserable runner. I am slow and I don’t have any endurance. But never once have I felt anything but welcome, praise, and fellowship from the running community. It needs to be the same with those of us who have mental illnesses of whatever degree. We must be cohesive and supportive because most of the rest of the world sure ain’t.
This is one of the reasons why I never post anything about my depression online, and will continue to never do it until the day I am gone.
Because I know that there are many people who are in more pain than me. And, while my pain is also real (at least to me), I feel like I have no right to complain or ask for comfort. It will only annoy other people who are also have their own problem to worry about, is what I learn in my real life. And I do not want to annoy them.
Also I know if I post something about my depression and then someone like Miss Gothic Chick come to comment that my depression is ‘not real’ or ‘not as bad as hers’, then I will not be able to take it and will break, because I am weak, even though I know they are speaking the truth. And I cannot break. Not yet. Have promises to keep before I can go.
So I decide to keep my problem to myself. But then I read your comics. And they make me feel like I am not alone, like it is ok to tell. So here I am.
This might be a mistake. I might delete this commend later if I can. But now I just want to say thank you. For your comics. They help.
P.S Sorry for bad english. It is not my native language.
Meh, too many people want to be “special snowflakes” and any excuse will do. If you have the most depressiony depression, you must be the MOST special! This is why everybody has an allergy now, often made up, Like say, Wi-Fi allergy. Or people who are not SURE if they are gluten intolerant. If you are you will KNOW, but if you imagine you are you can make it a hobby.. You have to have a syndrome, or a disorder, or a special group to be part of these days to define your identity and ranking in the victim parade. :/
But everybody is a special snowflake, of all the thousands of people I have met in my somewhat long life I have never met two that were alike. Hell, I have never met anyone who was the same as they were a few years ago. So not only is everyone a special snowflake, they are different special snowflakes every couple of years.
You dont get to decide who has and who hasnt an illness.
I’m a hypochondriac but that doesnt mean the pain I feel in my lower stomach isnt real. You dont get to decide if it is or is not. Also, as a hypochondriac you often think you have every mental illness imaginable, but in the end you dont feel satisfaction when you actually find out you have one. I’m also pretty sure that being a hypochondriac is a mental illness or could be a symptom of one.
If someone is so desperate about finding out what is wrong with them, there is a reason for that. No one wants to be ill or different, we all just want to know why we feel like shit and alienated.
this is soooooo true……..people come to my tumbr and hate on me for trying to get help of the internet (my calm place) becouse i cant afford to go see a teripist every mounth…….
Everyone suffers in their own way. For some, their way is loud, obnoxious and utterly narcissistic. Some others, however, find meaning and postpone their suicide (plans) in order to cater to the needs of those around them. *shrug*
“Six confirmed suicide attempts”? Sounds like the US Marine copypasta.
While I completely understand the message this is going for and generally agree, I find it hard to place blame on the corset lady. There are people who do genuinely think that their depression, if they’ve had it for longer and have reacted to it more severely, is the only kind of depression. Kind of like when people look at people who just get sad over normal things and get irked about it when they say “I got fired today, I’m depressed about it.” Makes me wonder just how relative depression severities really are.
However, of course, no one “owns” a condition and is allowed to define it for other people, even if they are having worse off than most others.
Thank you, Clay.
If you voluntarily check yourself into a facility, then go over the wall one night cuz they lost your debit card when they admitted you, is it considered escaping? Its not like I was held there against my will…
Eh… Is it wrong that I kind of see both sides to this?
I call this “Who has the biggest misery dick”
How about YOU stop trivializing my illness just because I deal with it differently? These people are the worst.
I can, as well. Depressed character #16 is very clearly in the wrong here, but it’s not because there aren’t some people out there who genuinely misdiagnose themselves as having clinical depression for the sake of being more ‘mysterious’ or ‘interesting’ or whatever. It’s more because flat out telling someone else they can’t claim to be [I]truly[/I] depressed until they have X number of meds/suicide attempts/hospitalizations/whatever is a dick move. Like the comic says, it’s not a damn competition.
When someone tells me they have clinical depression, I don’t necessarily always think that’s true, but I do always err on the side of believing them. Mostly because telling a genuinely depressed person their depression ‘doesn’t count’ is a whole lot more damaging than the alternative.
This needs to be a T-shirt.
I second that!
God, I HATE such conversations :/ it’s not a damn pity contest…
So this was NOT a case of ‘shared pain is lessened, shared joy, increased’ as per Spider Robinson?
Protagonist girl also says nasty things sometimes. The moral of those stories is: understand that she’s having a very difficult time. Why wouldn’t apply to friend-girl? Of course her response to the content is hurtful. But it’s a typical response of someone who’s been in treatment for years without feeling that she’s being heard or that theres any kind of improvement at all.
I need to start giving these characters names.
How about a vote by depressioncomix community?
Clay, is this the goth blogger from way before? 🙂
Yes, waaaaaay before!
At first I thought “Yay, here’s the goth chick from Sexy Losers! Haven’t seen her for long! I missed her!”,
but I didn’t realize she’s so mean..
She was always a character difficult to like. Goth Chick also appeared in #147 of depcom.
I am a miserable runner. I am slow and I don’t have any endurance. But never once have I felt anything but welcome, praise, and fellowship from the running community. It needs to be the same with those of us who have mental illnesses of whatever degree. We must be cohesive and supportive because most of the rest of the world sure ain’t.
Agreed! Build up, don’t tear down.
like? wherrre is da luv button…
This!!!
This is one of the reasons why I never post anything about my depression online, and will continue to never do it until the day I am gone.
Because I know that there are many people who are in more pain than me. And, while my pain is also real (at least to me), I feel like I have no right to complain or ask for comfort. It will only annoy other people who are also have their own problem to worry about, is what I learn in my real life. And I do not want to annoy them.
Also I know if I post something about my depression and then someone like Miss Gothic Chick come to comment that my depression is ‘not real’ or ‘not as bad as hers’, then I will not be able to take it and will break, because I am weak, even though I know they are speaking the truth. And I cannot break. Not yet. Have promises to keep before I can go.
So I decide to keep my problem to myself.
But then I read your comics. And they make me feel like I am not alone, like it is ok to tell.
So here I am.
This might be a mistake. I might delete this commend later if I can.
But now I just want to say thank you. For your comics. They help.
P.S Sorry for bad english. It is not my native language.
It’s not a competitive sport? Isn’t Depressed Character 2 a pro?
http://www.depressioncomix.com/posts/138/
😛
Meh, too many people want to be “special snowflakes” and any excuse will do. If you have the most depressiony depression, you must be the MOST special! This is why everybody has an allergy now, often made up, Like say, Wi-Fi allergy. Or people who are not SURE if they are gluten intolerant. If you are you will KNOW, but if you imagine you are you can make it a hobby.. You have to have a syndrome, or a disorder, or a special group to be part of these days to define your identity and ranking in the victim parade. :/
But everybody is a special snowflake, of all the thousands of people I have met in my somewhat long life I have never met two that were alike. Hell, I have never met anyone who was the same as they were a few years ago. So not only is everyone a special snowflake, they are different special snowflakes every couple of years.
That attitude is exactly what this Comic is criticizing
You dont get to decide who has and who hasnt an illness.
I’m a hypochondriac but that doesnt mean the pain I feel in my lower stomach isnt real.
You dont get to decide if it is or is not.
Also, as a hypochondriac you often think you have every mental illness imaginable, but in the end you dont feel satisfaction when you actually find out you have one.
I’m also pretty sure that being a hypochondriac is a mental illness or could be a symptom of one.
If someone is so desperate about finding out what is wrong with them, there is a reason for that.
No one wants to be ill or different, we all just want to know why we feel like shit and alienated.
ay JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA ya no les voy a decir pinches nada:
http://t.co/FCDVnb19n0
:V
227 http://t.co/84tuNpU14O
this is soooooo true……..people come to my tumbr and hate on me for trying to get help of the internet (my calm place) becouse i cant afford to go see a teripist every mounth…….
same with me…….
Misery is not a competitive sport
http://t.co/3oL6Ebqal4
I didn’t realize that misery was a competitive sport. http://t.co/mB8U69rj9G via @depressioncomix
227 http://t.co/7p1wBMXEd9 via @depressioncomix
THIS https://t.co/Ws1vWk2qAI
Everyone suffers in their own way. For some, their way is loud, obnoxious and utterly narcissistic. Some others, however, find meaning and postpone their suicide (plans) in order to cater to the needs of those around them. *shrug*