Someone Says “Depression Is A Choice”, And Andy Richter’s Response Is Brilliant

They're part of life. Trying to live like they don't exist, it's simply no sense.

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But for some they are told the depression is caused by excessive drinking but then choose to get drunk...some are already depressed with 2 kids but then choose to have another 2 and end up more depressed... some are depressed because they don't have much money, so they choose to quit there job and stay home and get more depressed because they end up with no money. There are cases where people 'choose' a path. There are cases where people are offered help but they want a quick fix or they want you to give them money to solve their problems. There are plenty of people who have mild depression caused by their actions and their surrounds and they 'could' change things if they wanted to - these people have a choice. But then there are people where stuff happened and it's out of their control. There are some who have chemical imbalance caused by medical reasons. These people don't have a choice.

Once you see a pattern in someone's behaviour, you can't unsee it. I'm glad losing her was a good choice. I've cut friends out of my life, and it makes me feel guilty but I know it was the only choice I had.

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@LazyPanda Any act that takes into consideration ones own feelings over the feelings of those around them is, by definition, a selfish act (don't blame me, blame Webster for the definition.) That being said..I understand when people are pushed to the edge all too well after losing a friend in the 6th grade. He was 11 years old and thought the only way out was to hang himself from a tree in his families backyard. Follow that with another friend that ate the barrel of his shotgun at 3am when I was in high school. The first kid was being abused and never told anyone. The second suffered from depression and constant bullying at school. Neither one of them said anything to anyone about it. I'm not asking people with depression to stop hurting or stop feeling pain..that would be impossible. What I am saying is, before taking that final act because you feel there is no way out, talk to someone you trust. They never said a word, then they were gone. To me..that's selfish.

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Suicide is a selfish act in that the person that commits it seems to forget how much it impacts everyone around them. They think the world would be better off without them when, in fact, the world around them is torn apart with even an attempt. That being said...suicide is never the answer to depression. As for your friend, she can go skip rope. I take depression very seriously because it can, often times, lead to suicide. And if I can do anything to prevent someone from taking that last final way out, I will be there for them or, if faced with a situation that's out of my emotional ability to help, direct them towards the people that can help. And sometimes that help comes in the form of ditching the toxic people in your life. Good for you for ditching the baggage.

Ok sorry sage, but that analogy made me laugh. I do have asthma.... spot on!

I stupidly left a drink unattended at home and my dog helped herself! She didn't get drunk, but neither did I so neither of us were happy!! (I jest - but it was my last one!)

I want to make up for a least one d**k by saying you're not guilty

Not only choosing life over suicide, but choosing to *live*. Not one day after another, but one minute, one hour after another. The struggle is real, it's tough. It can be unbearable sometimes, yes. But I'm learning that we can be strong.