Bear in Mind

There are alotta reasons why folks can't just "snap out of it" and "pull (themselves) out" of depression and/or other chronic states.  This is just one that helps me have some patience when I begin to impose my rules (for instance, a time-table) on others and their conditions.  Maybe it will make sense to you, too.

We know very little about the brain.  But more and more research is showing that the more often things occur (events, thoughts, feelings, opinions, self-talk, etc), the deeper those pathways are established in our brains.  That becomes our reality.  It becomes easier to follow back into those patterns.  Think of it like having mental-habits, analogous to physical addictions.  We do what is familiar, with little or no thought.

This is true for all of us, those with or without mental illnesses.  I sometimes feel like viewing the condition from this standpoint helps me to be more understanding of others.  I hope it makes sense and is helpful for you.