AIBU - debate with DH and I about depression

[bandgeek]

AIBU to think that my DH is a total twunt as we have been having a massive argument reasonable debate about depression and anti depressants

He is of the opinion that there are far too many people out there claiming to have depression and on anti-depressants for no reason at all (and may I add I have been on anit-d's for the past 8 months!) and they should just buck themselves up and get on with it. I have told him he is talking utter pish and he has no idea of everyone's circumstances but he is having none of it!

It all started over a post on bloody Facebook with one of my friends status' saying that they 'give up'. Now whilst I agree with him that the constant attention seeking posts on Facebook from some people can be tiresome, it doesn't mean they don't have a reason to be depressed! He thinks that if you have food, shelter and warmth then you should count yourself lucky and that there are people worse off in the world than you.

This argument is getting nowhere fast and I've told him I am going to post this on MN to see if indeed he is talking utter crap!

There is more depression (although it's less treated) after traumas, like floods in Pakistan, becoming a refugee and the like.

Depression is provable. Some people use the word when they're just fed up but plenty of people do get real clinical depression. As things like activity, moving, healthy balanced dieet, no junk food, sunshine tend to make it less common in countries where your diet and food and movement about daily chores is good then you would find less depression whereas the typical UK couch potato life and diet makes it worse.

SDTG - thanks for that :) It's scary how something so 'common place' as bullying can have such a huge affect on the rest of your life. I really hope that the therapy does help you to change your response to it and enable to you cope better. It will be interesting to see what the others think.

Have any of your councellors/therapists etc ever advised you to contact the bullies now and speak to them? I know it's helped some people.

Xenia - how is depression provable?

Chipping - I have sent the two leaders amongst the bullies messages via Friends Reunited, but have had no response from them. It could be that they don't go on there any more, and haven't received the messages, or that they are too ashamed to reply or that they still don't give a damn - I don't know.

But it did help to have stood up for myself, albeit a few years too late.

Have you tried finding them on Facebook?

I think it does help to see them as adults (balding, grey, hassled & haggard preferably ) and if you can to meet them, it certainly seemed to help a friend of mine and lots of people who were in a documentary on facing up to bullies/abusers years on.

I have looked on Facebook, and there are people with the same name, and the only one I thought might be one of them didn't get back to me when I contacted him.

You are absolutely right about seeing them as balding, ageing adults - I think that would help. I hadn't realised that until you said it - and now I am picturing them that way - you star!!

What facts is he basing his argument upon?