Could someone actually be addicted to being depressed?!
Question: my friend, shes been going through a really tough time and now shes starting to feel better but she doesnt really like it. she actually likes feeling depressed and when shes depressed shes usually like obsessed with something or someone. she said she knows more about herself when shes depressed because she knows what she is feeling. she doesnt think she knows herself when she feels better. i just want to help her. what do you think?
Answers: my friend, shes been going through a really tough time and now shes starting to feel better but she doesnt really like it. she actually likes feeling depressed and when shes depressed shes usually like obsessed with something or someone. she said she knows more about herself when shes depressed because she knows what she is feeling. she doesnt think she knows herself when she feels better. i just want to help her. what do you think?
Absolutely yes, once a person is depressed it's kinda fun to think how they have hurt you and this makes you feel sad but it also releases a reason to feel justified by being depressed, it is a vicious circle. Which can cause severe depression which leads to suicide sometime.
I used to love to feel sorry for myself and it became such unhappiness and depression that I could curl up and hate those who caused this.
Poor diet can also cause depression. If you eat junk food all the time it doesn't do anything but produce inactivity and depression. Tell her to just test that and study more on helping people and nutrition. Tell she is unhappy because of these things. You may be surprised by how bad one can feel and be loving it at the same time.
For her own sake she needs tough love and support if possible by telling her NOT to snap out of it but also thinking about others less fortunate that herself. I hope she will take your advice and here's to you for being a good loyal friends.
Tell her to pray.
I'm happier that you can imagine and this is what worked for me.
God's love to you both.
Mary
I think one may be addicted to the reaction and attention one gets.
She could have bipolar disorder and that can move you back and forth. She could have borderline personality disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder...or she could be having like a psychotic episode....you can be diagnosed depressive disorder with psychosis. You should look up Borderline Personality Disorder and Dysthimic (spelling?) disorder.
Oh my, that's interesting. I understand the part about feeling like you "know yourself better" when you're depressed, but it's so horrible! I also feel like I know myself now -not depressed- and am more proud of myself because when you're depressed.. you're really not very nice, friendly, or social. It can hurt people you love. Make them think you don't care. Maybe she's not depressed, she just has a weird personality or something. I really don't know.
She is getting something out of being depressed--your attention. She could go to a therapist or counselor to find out why she thinks that way.
Chances are that she doesn't like actually being depressed, but instead feels that that's the only way she can get sympathy and attention from other people. Is this like clinically depressed or just feeling sad for awhile about something? Because chances are if she's been clinically depressed and has come out of it, she probably won't want to go back. I would take a look at her motives- there's probably a deeper issue with her, such as insecurity or poor self-esteem. I don't know how close you are with her, but if you're close enough it may be a good idea to sit her down and ask for some complete honesty as to why she's feeling the way she is, how exactly she feels, etc. Obviously however she's very confused about herself and her feelings if she needs to have one overriding emotion to simply understand herself.
try again
I actually know someone who is a lot like your friend.
I don't believe your friend is "addicted" to being depressed as much as she enjoys feeling sorry for herself.
There's only one way you can help her ... and that is to no longer "enable" her. Don't make special allowances for her, don't cover for her, don't perpetuate her "addiction".
As long as others (yourself included) continue to feel sorry for her (and make her feel "special") she will keep using you.
The best thing you can do for your friend is to let her know that, while you do care very much about her, you will no longer be her unpaid therapist. Tell her that her "depression" is dragging your friendship down and putting a strain on your relationship with her. Insist that she seek professional counseling and offer to help her. Make it clear to her that you value her friendship, but will no longer treat her with kid gloves.
Sounds like "tough love", doesn't it? It IS. But, it's the only thing that works. Best of Luck to you.
The person above is on the right track-
"Mental illness" covers a lot of conditions, just as do rashes or heart problems
This calls for a psychiatric evaluation- it's not a do-it-yourself kit. People may refuse to get help and insist nothing is wrong. If that's the case, not much you can do.
Mood disorders, which is what this is, cause people to not see reality too well. There's no arguing with them because they know they're right just as you know you're right.
l hate to write this, but most of us are isolated and have few friends because we just don't think and don't act like others do. Not our fault, it,s the messages our brain sends us because there is a chemical problem that interferes.
Spend time with her as long as you want to, but don't be surprised if you find you don't want to, and don't feel guilty. You didn't cause the problem and you can't cure it.