Comedian’s Twitter Rant Defending Depression And Demolishing A Troll Is A Must Read And Going Viral For Good

• By Asad Tipu
• November 19, 2017
• < 1

Andy Richter is a comedian and a late night show host.

He’s often seen sitting next to Conan O’Brien with famous celebrities, and making the audience laugh. A week ago, someone had the bright idea of telling people with depression that they’re choosing to feel like they want to die. Richter saw this post and it got a lot of raw emotion out of him.

His initial response had class.

depression is a choice

— a$ia (@_asiastabler) November 12, 2017

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

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) November 17, 2017

But he later went on to clarify.

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

It was important to him that people understood.

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 went off on a powerful twitter rant describing and defending those with depression.

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

It’s an illness that people do not choose.

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

Saying it’s a choice is blaming the victim.

“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

Because depression is a sadistic killer.

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