Exactly my thoughts. Lately I've been using the intoxication metaphor because most people can relate to it. I use it by asking... "Could you explain the feeling

Exactly my thoughts. Lately I've been using the intoxication metaphor because most people can relate to it. I use it by asking... "Could you explain the feeling of severe intoxication to someone who's never experienced it?" Would they truly understand? Of course not. It's impossible. The same is true of severe depression. Your entire state of mind is altered in a way you have very little control over. It's impossible to relate to it unless you've been there. Along the same lines, you can't tell a depressed person to "just be positive" any more than you can tell a drunk person to "just sober up". I mean you can, and they can superficially appear to do so, but it's unsustainable in any meaningful way.