“You Don’t Look Depressed” & What People Hear About Mental Illness

Twitter users share the worse thing people have said about their mental illness.

The importance of metal health is seldom spoken of and those who are battling psychological ailments are, largely, looked down upon by the society.

One would assume that the West, compared to India, is more accepting and open towards mental illnesses patients. However, that is hardly the case. World over, there is little awareness on various mental illnesses, which makes people stay ignorant about the matter.

People have taken to Twitter to shed light on some of the unhelpful, insensitive, and insulting things they have heard from others about their mental illnesses.

#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness was started by lifestyle reporter, Hattie Gladwell. Through her tweet, she urged twitterati to come forward and share some of the worst things they have heard about their mental illnesses. Her tweet garnered a lot of attention as netizens shared their stories.

‘I Couldn’t Have Heard Worse’

Quote this tweet with the most unhelpful/insensitive thing someone has said to you about your mental illness.

I’ll start: One person told me I didn’t need medication, I just needed to be more motivated to cope with my mental health. #ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— hattie gladwell (@hatttiegladwell) May 6, 2018

“It’s attention seeking” (eating disorders)
“You sound like a psycho” (being sectioned)
“Try NOT being sad” (depression)
“Snap out of it” (all)
“Lots of people have it worse than you”
“You don’t look ill”
“I wish I was anorexic”#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness https://t.co/xEXDdf8y8M

— Juliette Burton (@JulietteBurton) May 7, 2018

“Just stop overreacting, you’re such a hypochondriac” 🤬#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— Charlotte Underwood (Author) (@CUnderwoodUK) May 6, 2018

“When you’re feeling sad, don’t text me, it feels like it’s poisoning my soul” #ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— nope (@cayleysf) May 7, 2018

" if it was that bad, you would have killed yourself already so pull yourself together "
#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— Becky (@strongertoget) May 8, 2018

'A friend': "No offence but nobody wants to be in a relationship with someone with mental health problems."

How is that NOT offensive?#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— Ida Väisänen (@Idaisdepressed) May 7, 2018

"You don't look depressed."
"Why haven't you killed yourself yet?"
"I think you have a problem with rejection." (After I said I was scared to leave my abusive ex.)

All said by medical professionals. #ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— Ida Väisänen (@Idaisdepressed) May 6, 2018

Wow, where to start with this one?!

“Other people have it much worse than you do.”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”
“Everyone else is dealing with life, so why can’t you?”
“You’re being selfish.”#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness https://t.co/tPySjTJeJh

— Paddy O'Brien (@wolfetone98) May 6, 2018

#ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness "I was depressed too until I found a relationship with God." 100% fuck off

— Sara (@sarachrisenbery) May 8, 2018

List the reasons why you might be depressed and see which are valid reasons. #ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness https://t.co/aoFmcdYAcC

— Lyla (@Bookishmind27) May 6, 2018

You are taking medication so you should be fine. #ThingsPeopleHaveSaidAboutMyMentalIllness

— Adam Howard (@AdamHoward2000) May 6, 2018