Depression is like cancer

“Sadness is more or less like a head cold - with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.” ― Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees I found this quote on a website of quotes about bipolar and depression. I think it is a strong accurate statement. I got in shit for it from a FB friend and unfriended becuase i refused to see it as insulting. I do not wish to debate this, but i will post my thoughts on why i believe this quote is true. first my grandmother died in november after a long strugle with breast cancer, my grandfather had prostate cancer and died from skin cancer...my husbands best friend died about 4 years ago from a cancer that killed him in less then a year, my sister has had skin cancer a few times. i have had friends whos children has had cancer as well...i see the struggles and pain, and althought my child did not have cancer (but she is at high risk for it) i saw her struggle to surivive. my point is quoting this quote is not to make less of those who have or are suffereing with cancer, but to point out how much those who have depression also suffer. cancer is illness, one that can be fairly easily dx, you need treatment to surivive, and it will be the fight of your life and even might end it. The same is true of depression, we struggle to surivive...against the dark thoughts, the self harm and suicide wants and even attempts. bipolar depression can not be cured, it can only be managed by treatments of meds and therapy's. and even then we have dark days. cancer affects the whole family....well so does depression..some days we cant get out of bed, we find it hard to live let alone look after and be around our loved ones. Depression can also cause physical pain. the only difference is when you have cancer your not told to snap out of it, or its just your hormonnes, your not called crazy and told to take your meds becuase you have an opinion somone doesnt agree with. your allowed to shout from the roof tops I BEAT CANCER, there are t shirts and tons of fundraisers...pink everywhere. if you are fighting cancer you are brave and loved..if you are fighting depression people dont even want to be around you. we are told to keep our depression secret, its shameful. i'm not saying those with depression have it worse, i just dont think its unfair to say that yes depression is like cancer.