Depression is an Illness

Yeah.  That's why it's called a mental illness.  Because it's an illness.  But for some reason, in our society, we tend to treat some illnesses differently.  Mental illnesses aren't thought of as "real" illnesses.

Let's compare depression to cancer.  Both are very serious illnesses.  Both are life-threatening.  Both can last a very long time, and even if you go into remission, the prospect of relapse is always hanging over your head.

But if you have depression, people will tell you that you should get over it.  They'll tell you that you just need to have a positive attitude.  They'll tell you that you just need to try harder to get better.  They will tell you that everyone gets depressed sometimes, which isn't true; yes, everyone feels sad sometimes, but feeling sad is not the same as suffering from clinical depression.

If you have cancer, people will not tell you to just get over it.  They  might tell you to have a positive attitude, but they probably won't think that a positive attitude will cure your cancer.  They won't accuse you of not trying hard enough if you don't get better fast enough.  They certainly won't tell you that everyone gets cancer.

If you have depression, people will think you could get over it if you really wanted to.  People won't think you have cancer because you don't want to get well.

If you have depression, people will think it means you're weak, or stupid, or crazy.  No one thinks that if you have cancer.

If you have depression and die from it (depression can be fatal; people with depression commit suicide), people will think you're selfish.  If you have cancer and die from it, people would never dream of calling you selfish for dying.