Depression is NOT laziness, it is your ignorance and arrogance that is lazy

Depression is NOT laziness, it is your ignorance and arrogance that is lazy

Many unfamiliar people will be familiar with depression. In fact, you could very well say that confidence and self-esteem are pretty sure antidotes to depression. - And vice versa.

When we are depressed, we have little confidence in our abilities and our future. In our purpose, our entire existence, our value as human beings. Depression in its worst forms can be one of the most debilitating non-fatal illnesses ever known to humanity. In fact, according to the WHO, by 2030 depression will account for “the highest level of disability of any physical or mental disorder in the world.” *

(And I say "non-fatal." Because in the case of suicidal depression, it's technically not the illness itself that's killing you.)

And then some ignorant, self-righteous idiot claims it's all about "being lazy," "getting it together," and "if I can do it, so can you." And then I involuntarily grind my teeth and clench my fists.

As if depression was simply a matter of “laziness.” I mean, how dare these people?!

As if someone who, remarkably, knows absolutely nothing about depression is even remotely qualified to have an opinion on the matter. – You are much less likely to write the whole thing off as “laziness”.

Seriously, if you've ever thought that someone suffering from depression is just lazy, then there you have it. Your view is not only objectively wrong and distorted, but also offensive and harmful. The end, period.

In fact, I think it's time to put the idea of ​​"laziness" to the test. Because what I have found is that if there is someone we might consider “lazy,” then really all other things are going on underneath that perceived laziness.

There is fear. Uncertainty. Barriers. There is analysis paralysis. These things tend to manifest as procrastination, inactivity, isolation, and defensiveness.

…but they are NOT “laziness”.

And no, not even procrastination. It's all based on fear; It's all driven by fear.

Insecurity is essentially fear. We perceive barriers out of fear. We overthink things, second guess things and go into analysis paralysis out of fear. The most primal human emotion (aside from the conglomerate of physical attraction, survival instinct, and dopamine-induced emotions we call love) is fear.

…NOT “laziness”.

- "Okay, now there are no more lazy people? What if the name is there for a reason?"

Well, everything is here for a variety of reasons. But just because every man-made notion or idea is here for a reason doesn't make it true.

Our ancestors used to think that the solar system was geocentric. Yes, wrong answer.

It's not that I'm writing off the idea that someone can be lazy. But psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors and psychotherapists have long created a bulletproof framework around the concept of depression. By working with people suffering from depression and low self-confidence.

– Just as astronomers have long since discovered that our solar system is heliocentric.

Depression is real; it is medically proven; and it is not laziness. On the contrary, the only thing remotely lazy in this context is the ignorance and arrogant attitude of anyone who claims that depressed people are simply “lazy.”

*Source: https://www.psychology.org.au/publications/inpsych/2012/february/manicavasagar /.

Inspired by Andy Kay