Many people don't realize that sadness and depression are two distinctly different things. The stigmas and misconceptions surrounding the subject can often make it more difficult for a person and the family to deal with depression. One friend always thought I was a hypochondriac while another friend thought my behavior was just an excuse to avoid the responsibility I had to take in my life. My bout with depression gave me more resentment, anger, and loneliness than I had before. People who want to help their friend or family member sometimes feel that they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Depression can be a delicate thing to deal with.
Often a depressed person feels their peers have simply dismissed their condition or, in other cases, think their family members are over-reacting and treating them like a child. I think the most difficult thing for them is when they notice or I tell them that I am feeling down. They tend to over-react and think I will kill myself. My fianc wants to 'fix me' when I get depressed. He thinks if he can get me out of bed or get me a new job I will get better.