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“Remember, somebody has it worse than you.” Have you ever said this to anyone? Think about it for a second if you have to. I am 100% sure that a younger version of myself has. What a terrible thing for someone to have to hear come out of my mouth, did I expect that to help? We should never be saying this to anyone. If you are, why? It just does not make any sense.

I suffer from major depression. I used to be so scared to tell people this. I mean it still sucks, but it’s the truth. Saying it makes me feel a little better. I like things out in the open. However, when you put things out in the open there are consequences. In my opinion, consequences are there when you hold things in too. With that being said, I have been visibly down at times and have heard the phrase, “Remember, somebody has it worse than you” so many times. I think when you hear someone say it to you, you realize just how ridiculous it is.

Obviously, someone has it worse than me. 151,600 people die each day here on Earth. That is 1.75 per second. So, someone in a worse situation dies every second. Every second there is a new person that has it worse than me, then another and another. That doesn’t make me feel any better, in fact, it makes the situation worse. Like adding a little fuel to the fire. I would urge you to keep this phrase to yourself. Put it on the shelf.

Sadly, you can’t see depression the way you can other things. It is not like an injury, addiction, illness or another type of grief that is visible. Maybe another example would help. Let’s take this scenario. You are at the funeral for your best friends mother. She died suddenly in a car crash. Your best friend and her mother had an amazing relationship. This is a truly sad day. You are standing next to your best friend after the funeral is over. Her cousin comes over, gives her a firm embrace and says “Remember, someone has it worse than you.”

How does it make you feel when you hear her cousin say this? Does it sound right to you, or appropriate for the situation? It doesn’t to me. I would argue it is not appropriate for any situation. Again, keep it to yourself and shelf it.

Thanks for reading. Peace and love.