That saying drives me crazy! You’re right…. Who chooses this?????

Depression is not a choice. It's debilitating and crippling to anyone who has to suffer. Happiness may be a choice but when you are fighting depression and anxiety everyday, it's hard to find any type of happiness. Especially when you have dealt with it for many years. You forget what happiness is and lose hope. It's a fight everyday. I have learned that when you are suffering from depression, you have to force yourself to do things. Try and find 1 thing that you enjoy doing, and then do that 1 thing. That may lead to 2 things and so on. I am still working on it. I have a long ways to go.

My favorite color is a choice. What I eat for breakfast is a choice. But happiness vs. depression is not a choice. Being suicidal is not a choice I have made. Even getting treatment isn’t always a choice. For those of us with severe depression, suicidal ideation or suicide attempts, others usually make the choice for us. Continuing treatment is the closest to a choice we can make.

I always say to my partner or friends "I wish I could switch brains with you for a week and maybe you would understand".

Happiness is a choice under many other circumstances. Like having enough wealth to not have to even work. To have friends and family who support you 110% and see to all your needs. It would be difficult to choose not to be happy right. Even then. . . why would want to choose to feel depressed. Can one actually purposefully and willingly feel depressed?? It would only be an enactment. Oscar winning performance. No one would choose depression. It happens and is only understood by those who have suffered. Gees, my life is getting so short now, why would I have chosen to be depressed for the past 6 years. Oh and not show anyone . . . . just keep it a secret between me and myself. Depression IS real and it would help if others understood and accept it.