I watched the movie Joker this week and there was this one line that struck me:
“The worst part about having mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.”
This is so true.
I was expressing a problem I had which I could see is a direct consequence of withdrawal due to a recent depression episode. But someone who just didn’t get it said that if I didn’t want to have this consequence, I just had to behave normally.
She just doesn’t get it.
Then I stopped talking because I realised that no matter how much I tried to explain it, I cannot expect someone who has never gone through depression (or took care of someone with depression) to understand.
I’m glad I watched the movie. I’m glad someone out there understands what it’s like to live with a mental illness.
Daniel Tay 