Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

[CyanoticXtC]

Noel... on the forums?.. crazy!

[TheTypist]

Well, we're sort of a victimized society that encourages people to blame everything on a certain medical condition, or a certain childhood experience, or maybe to rely on a certain legal loophole so they can pass on responsibility from themselves onto their circumstances.

Sometimes, I think things are taken too far when too many things are a person's own responsibility are blamed on a medical condition. Maybe people actually fool themselves into thinking they are more of a victim than they really are. But at the same time we must keep in mind that the medical conditions are very real, so it's hard to distinguish whether it's the actual condition or just self-victimization.

[Micman7]

Hmm... Seems like she has a problem - but odds are it's NOT depresion.
She just wants attention.

All people are equal,
Just some are more equal then others.
(In terms of mental well being. I remember that quote from a book I had to read back when I was in 2nd grade... I belive it was Animal Farm, correct me if I am wronge.)

:P G`day,
-Alan

[gofg]

Hell, she might be depressed. back when i was depressed, I wanted attention, but i was afraid I would be viewed as selfish. maybe she didn't care whether she was viewed as selfish or not.

[Meteor858]

hey I have a real depression issue like i see psyciatrists and stuff, and i can pretty much tell she is faking it. she just wants attention. ask her why she acts that way and tell her different ways to act if she really does have depression. for me i dunno i have tried to kill myself bout dunno8-11 times this past year. So if you need to know bout depression just ask me ill answer
-meteor858

[CMCAdvanced]

Trust me, she isn't depressed.
She wouldn't just shout "I'm depressed!!!" rather, she would silently tell her self that while cutting down the highway, not across the street.

[Cenright]

The mind can work wonders. With a placebo there to make the mind think that there is true relief, a person in a lot of pain can actually feel better after taking it. The thing is is that it is all in their mind.

It is incredible what the mind can do for itself.

[CMCAdvanced]

I like to think of it this way. Most people are just lost in miles and miles of bullshit.
And I see no end to this road.
People just abuse things, and they always will.
People that have a placebo effecting them, are just weak minded. Mostly, from what I've seen

[Meteor858]

you make a forceful arguement and if you ever see her cutting you know theres something wrong trust me

[ayanepuck]

This is a little long, but I make valid points, I think...or at least I am trying.

Maybe I missed something, but in reading through all these posts, I didn't see anyone talking about this girl trying to get attention as a bad thing. She may not be depressed, but there is something wrong with a person who demads that much attention to his/herself.

About medication....I take medication for anxiety and depression, and it took a hella long time to find the one that fit me best. Medication does not always work (right away or ever,) and there are some that backfire and make matters worse. It is very difficult choosing medication when dealing with depression, anxiety, or both. As someone who suffers from both, I have sympathy for this girl in a way, but in another way I tend to agree with what is being said in here.

I do believe there are some people who use it as an excuse, (I go to school with some, and being a theatre major, I am bound to run into many more...) and I think that is sad, but I also see that as a problem. If a person needs to make up the fact that he/she is depressed, then that is a serious problem.

About cutting, I am also a former cutter. Nothing bothers me more, however, than a person who cuts on his/her arms and then wears short sleeve t-shirts or tank tops on purpose, just to let everyone know what is going on, and then pretends to cover them up later. That sickens me. Granted, there are times when one forgets that they have done that, and people see it (which is how I was found out) but a person who really has a cutting problem will not hint that they have one, and in most cases will go to great lengths to make sure that the cuts and/or scars are covered at all times.

I have come to terms with the scars left over on my arms and legs, and ocassionally I will look at them and feel exceedingly stupid for doing that to myself, but most of the time I try not to talk about it to people, because the attention received from something like that is never the kind of attention that should be sought after. The fact that this person is wanting that kind of attention is dangerous.

I will use my friend Taylor as an example. Taylor would have been 17 this January, instead she hanged herself in her room last April. I have a feeling that Taylor's intentions were not to kill herself, but rather, to get her mother's attention, and her mother just happened to stay out of the room a little longer than planned.

So rather than getting angry with this person, and making fun of her, attempt to help her to best of your abilities, which might include getting a parent or teacher involved. (I know this sounds after-school special-esque....but hey, I am trying.)

[Meteor858]

ayanepuck, I got some advice for you. Tell someone about your cutting. It can be anyone(preferably someone close to like a friends or relative) talkin will help the feeling of stupidity go away, and it may help wipe some bad thoughts from your mind.
Me for example, I cut, I don't hide it even though i know it might attract unwanted attention, it alerts others to the situation and may incourage them to help, but if they make fun of me or you anyone for it. WHO CARES if they do theyre obviously full of shit.

[Cenright]

ayane feels stupid because it was a stupid thing to do. Meteor, you must not have much of a braincell if you think cutting to be ok. ayane understands what her problem was. You though, still seem to have the problem, yet don't think anything of it. They make fun of you because of your stupidity. No one made fun of ayane, the feelings of stupidity came from her, and they should. To not want to remedy the problem means the person's mind is completely twisted and messed up, or they are a complete idiot.

[Meteor858]

Ummm.... no crap its a stupid thing to do and i dont like doing it one bit, but at the same time im not ashamed of it, and kids make fun of others for pretty much, hmm...... lets see here... everything

[Cenright]

She wasn't ashamed either, but she was feeling stupid for it. But we are talking about the people who flaunt it as a trophy.

[hatakikakashi]

I get depressed alot. But not all the time. You go in and out. Depression isn't some kind of disease that once you get it you've got it forever. She probably really does get depressed sometimes. Like when she thinks about how noone pays any attention to her unless she acts out. She may feel worthless, I know I do sometimes.

I used to cut myself mostly on my chest and shoulders( so that noone would be able to see them.) then one time it got real bad and I cut all up and down my left forearm, I don't know why I did that. but after everyone saw them and told me how dumb I was I stoped doing it. I've got several bad scars now and they'll be there for the rest of my life. I still can't figure out what (if anything) was going through my mind. At first they were more like scratches than cuts but then I started using razors. I wish I could take them all back.