I can't believe I did that.  I have suffered from MDD Recurrent Severe for years, and am adept at telling people what those of us suffering from depression don't want to hear.  No "pull yourself up by the bootstraps or "get over it" as these things do not help.  But saying "Don't be depressed" is one of the worst, and I just said that to a friend. 

I was surprised that this person was genuinely feeling so blue and I said "Don't be depressed" without even thinking. It was a knee-jerk reaction to the pain being felt by someone that is somehow close to me.  There are those in this world who should not be the ones suffering from this disease, but it picks who it wants, and that person has to put up with it.  Depression sucks.

The friend who was feeling blue did not make note of my slip (thank heavens).  I'm pretty sure I won't make that mistake again. 

I want to be a good friend to someone who is down.  All I can rely on is my own knowledge of what it feels like to be down.  I think that will guide me in the right direction.  This disclosure, that my friend was feeling blue, took me by surprise, and that was why I reacted the way I did. Here's to those of us who have felt blue and want to help others who are as well.