# Mental illness is exaggerated **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522 "2013-06-09T03:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/481 "2013-07-17T19:40:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Oh, of course. They’re depressed because they forgot to wish they weren’t depressed. Wishing won’t do it, it takes work. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/482 "2013-07-17T19:42:28Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Wishing won’t do it, it takes work. How long were you diagnosed as being clinically depressed? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/483 "2013-07-17T19:43:42Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Wishing won’t do it, it takes work. You might want to have a word with this guy: > [@lekatt](#): > > It all depends on how much you wish to be free of depression, it can be cured. […] first you need to believe it can be cured. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/484 "2013-07-17T19:54:16Z")
I agree about 99% with what **Zoe** said. I disagree about 99% with what **lekatt** said, not least because of the self-contradictions. He is right that some people can simply force themselves through the depression, and do their day’s work. They can do what has to be done. That, I think, applies to most people with clinical depression. They are able to go to work, cook dinner, do their homework, maybe even paint or write poetry. They just have terrible periods of very unpleasant thoughts, from which they cannot escape. Only a small minority are so affected that they can’t function. A lot of people also function with no legs, or blind, or unable to pick anything up with their hands. The human spirit can be remarkably resilient. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/485 "2013-07-17T20:54:40Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It all depends on how much you wish to be free of depression, it can be cured. > Your mind or mental faculties are not open to disease, after all what is the mind? > But first you need to believe it can be cured. I had it once but not any more. > I would sit and cry, shake and have anxiety attacks, migraine headaches so bad I couldn’t get out of bed. They are all gone. I reported this - I had hoped a mod would step in - but since they have not (yet) - I would like to humbly ask you to quit posting such ‘self serving bullshit’ into this thread… this is ‘Great Debates’ where ideally such things as this would be backd up with actual evidence - which you have NONE - if you want to post ‘lekatts personal guide to fixing depression’ - take it to IMHO or somewhere else. In this thread - this kind of crap has no place - and only serves to further the already poorly worded/thought of the OP - that has also been soundly trounced by knowledgeable posters. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/486 "2013-07-17T20:58:43Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I agree about 99% with what **Zoe** said. > > I disagree about 99% with what **lekatt** said, not least because of the self-contradictions. > > He is right that some people can simply force themselves through the depression, and do their day’s work. They can do what has to be done. That, I think, applies to most people with clinical depression. They are able to go to work, cook dinner, do their homework, maybe even paint or write poetry. They just have terrible periods of very unpleasant thoughts, from which they cannot escape. > > Only a small minority are so affected that they can’t function. > > A lot of people also function with no legs, or blind, or unable to pick anything up with their hands. The human spirit can be remarkably resilient. One thing about this - for those that do ‘manage to force themselves thru’ - that is NOT A CURE - not that a CURE ‘exists’ - but it is a coping ‘skill’ - it does nothing to suggest that ‘mental ilness is exagerated’ or that ‘medical intervention is a scam’ - it is, as you say, one of the many ‘remarkably resiliaent’ features of being human. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/487 "2013-07-17T21:15:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You might want to have a word with this guy: I didn’t say wish, I said believe, big difference. I don’t think a person can do what he don’t believe he can do. This board has a lot of negativity in it. So it is not surprising that there is a lot of depression. What is sad is no one thinks there’s a better way. It takes about 20 minutes a day to get better. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/488 "2013-07-17T21:17:20Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I didn’t say wish, I said believe, big difference. > > I don’t think a person can do what he don’t believe he can do. > > This board has a lot of negativity in it. So it is not surprising that there is a lot of depression. What is sad is no one thinks there’s a better way. So, was it clinical depression you cured yourself of? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/489 "2013-07-17T21:21:55Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I didn’t say wish, I said believe, big difference. Let’s read that sentence together, everybody: > [@lekatt](#): > > It all depends on how much you wish to be free of depression, it can be cured. > [@lekatt](#): > > This board has a lot of negativity in it. Toward this type of baloney, yes, it does. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/490 "2013-07-17T21:33:32Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Let’s read that sentence together, everybody: > Toward this type of baloney, yes, it does. You missed this I guess. “But first you need to believe it can be cured.” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/491 "2013-07-17T21:40:21Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It all depends on how much you wish to be free of depression Dusty Springfield said that wishin’ and hopin’ wouldn’t work. And I’d listen to her before you any time. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/492 "2013-07-17T21:47:41Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > You missed this I guess. > > “But first you need to believe it can be cured.” I quoted that statement back to you earlier, so no, I did not miss it. Believing nonsense doesn’t make it come true. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/493 "2013-07-17T21:54:45Z")
> [@simster](#): > > . . . for those that do ‘manage to force themselves thru’ - that is NOT A CURE . . . Total agreement, and I apologize if my post may have implied otherwise. Just as there is no cure for having one’s legs cut off, and yet, someone with no legs can cope with life and reality, hold a job, have kids, etc. Same with severe depression: one can live a somewhat normal life, while suffering from emotional misery the whole time. The same is true for some kinds of severe muscle or nerve pain. (Some kinds of pain are so severe that they make everyday functioning impossible. A friend has severe migraines, and, no, there is no “coping.” There is only lying down in a dark room. Some kinds of depression are also this bad.) As has been noted above, there is a large degree of variability. Some forms of depression are still fully valid clinical depression, but relatively mild. And, alas, there is also suicidal depression. There isn’t any one set of rules that applies to all people. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/494 "2013-07-17T21:55:35Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > You missed this I guess. > > “But first you need to believe it can be cured.” Should I also clap my hands and/or click my heals together? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/495 "2013-07-17T22:25:29Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Total agreement, and I apologize if my post may have implied otherwise. Just as there is no cure for having one’s legs cut off, and yet, someone with no legs can cope with life and reality, hold a job, have kids, etc. Same with severe depression: one can live a somewhat normal life, while suffering from emotional misery the whole time. The same is true for some kinds of severe muscle or nerve pain. > > (Some kinds of pain are so severe that they make everyday functioning impossible. A friend has severe migraines, and, no, there is no “coping.” There is only lying down in a dark room. Some kinds of depression are also this bad.) > > As has been noted above, there is a large degree of variability. Some forms of depression are still fully valid clinical depression, but relatively mild. And, alas, there is also suicidal depression. There isn’t any one set of rules that applies to all people. totally agree - my main point was the counter to lekatt’s ‘believe/wish cures all’ bullshit. There is a myriad of ‘coping mechanisms’ - some people need medical assistance, some do not - some could use it even though they think they are fine and some abuse it even though they are ‘fine’ - but ‘wishing’ will NEVER work except as an excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Ayebaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darth_ayebaw/32/9870_2.png) [@Darth\_Ayebaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Ayebaw)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/496 "2013-07-17T22:32:13Z")
Never? At the very least couldn’t you get the same placebo as is possible through prayer? Not saying that that’s what lekatt is speaking of, or that it would be particularly common or effective. But possible, no? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/497 "2013-07-17T22:37:23Z")
> [@Darth\_Ayebaw](#): > > Never? At the very least couldn’t you get the same placebo as is possible through prayer? If all that’s going on is the placebo effect, there’s nothing to brag about. Why tout one placebo over another? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/498 "2013-07-17T22:39:42Z")
Well, yeah, trying to hold positive thoughts does _some_ good. Placebo and prayer: it isn’t absolutely devoid of benefit. I wouldn’t tell someone who is desperately depressed, and religious, “Oh, stop praying: there isn’t any God, you know.” There are lots and lots of coping mechanisms. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/499 "2013-07-17T22:41:26Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I wouldn’t tell someone who is desperately depressed, and religious, “Oh, stop praying: there isn’t any God, you know.” Nobody would. The issue is that **lekatt** keeps telling them “You haven’t gotten better because you don’t believe enough.” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/500 "2013-07-17T23:32:25Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Nobody would. The issue is that **lekatt** keeps telling them “You haven’t gotten better because you don’t believe enough.” exactly - positive thoughts, prayer, belief, etc are good things ‘over all’ - however, when I see teh word “wishing” or “wish” - I don’t think of that as a positive thought or belief - I see it as ‘wanting’ a positive thought or belief and it can feed back into the negative (i keep wishing, but I don’t get better) - getting better, coping, etc all are ‘active’ verbs - you’re actively doing things to get better - including medical when needed - I see wishing as ‘passive’ and of little benefit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=26)