Andy Richter Offers Sassy (and Heartfelt) Response to This Common Depression Myth

Comedian Andy Richter, best known as Conan O’Brien’s late night “sidekick,” took a break from tweeting jokes on Friday to respond to a Twitter user who said, “Depression is a choice.”

Oh really? Well “go fuck yourself” is a directive. https://t.co/7W9WOSdnsT

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

Richter tweeted, “Oh really? Well ‘go fuck yourself’ is a directive.” He then followed up his original tweet 30 minutes later with a heartfelt tweet storm about how depression affects his life.

“I have been followed by an ever-present amorphous sadness for almost my entire life,” he wrote. “I am 51 yrs old. It varies in strength from a casual unresolvable suspicion that I will never find the joy that others do in a sunset, to the feeling that being dead might a respite & a kindness.”

Quote-responding to this tweet may seem like shooting fish in a barrel, & yet it is 30 mins later & I have pulled over after school drop-off to respond further because I am angry.

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

I have been followed by an ever-present amorphous sadness for almost my entire life. I am 51 yrs old. It varies in strength from a casual unresolvable suspicion that I will never find the joy that others do in a sunset, to the feeling that being dead might a respite & a kindness

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

He said he’s been taking medication for decades, and that even though he has a successful career and a loving family, “I will still reach the end of my life having walked through most of it with an emotional limp.”

“Depression is a choice,” he said, really means, “Your pain is your fault,” and “You can overcome this if you just try hard enough,” means, “Your pain is making me uncomfortable. Please shut up.”

I’ve been on meds for decades. I’m a devout believer in the talking cure of therapy & it’s structure & hope & absolutely life-saving sense of progress. I have a successful career. I’m in love w my wife of 27 yrs, & my 2 kids are the best ppl I know. My life is full. I am lucky

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

And I will still reach the end of my life having walked through most of it with an emotional limp. I do not wallow in self-pity. No one did this to me. It is just how it is. I am just unlucky.

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

“Depression is a choice” = “your pain is your fault”
“You can overcome this if you just try hard enough” = “Your pain is making me uncomfortable. Please shut up.”

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

Unfortunately, it’s not so uncommon for people to imply that “depression is a choice.” In her piece about the topic, Mighty contributor Odawni Palmer said that saying “depression is a choice” can be especially damaging for people with depression who already think their depression is their fault. She wrote: 

Because it’s an invisible illness, people who silently live with depression tend to self-stigmatize. Why can’t I just get over this? It’s been weeks. Why am I not strong enough to pull myself out of this? What’s wrong with me?! Thoughts like these circle my mind seemingly endlessly, and the negative thinking keeps the wheel of depression spinning.

Richter ended his with a message for people who “don’t get” depression: “If you are unburdened by depression, real true depression, count yourself lucky. Keep your quick fixes to yourself. This is the kind of bullshit that kills people. Learn, then speak. Or just be lucky and quiet.”

If you are unburdened by depression, real true depression, count yourself lucky. Keep your quick fixes to yourself. This is the kind of bullshit that kills people. Learn, then speak. Or just be lucky and quiet.

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

Celebrities like Lena Dunham and Josh Groban showed Richter their support.

There are some people reading this today who no doubt really needed it and you made space for their experience and that’s one reason you’re a dream

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) November 17, 2017

Thank you for this, Andy

— josh groban (@joshgroban) November 17, 2017

Have you ever been told that “depression is a choice?” Our community members offered ways to combat comments like that in this post.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.

If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741-741.