Imagine not getting out of bed for weeks, except for only your most basic needs. Not because you are physically hurt, not because you don't want to get up, but because your mind will not allow you to throw off the blankets, sit up, put your feet on the floor and stand up. Do you think you could sleep for sixteen hours straight and wake up feeling like you could still go back to sleep? What about not showering for a week or longer, could you stand yourself? Think about completely isolating yourself from close friends and family for extended periods of time. Would you feel bad if you didn't return any of their calls, regardless of all their concerned messages? "Why haven't you called me back?" "Why don't you answer your phone? I'm worried about you." "Are you alive over there? I am ready to come over there with the police and kick your door down if I don't hear back from you soon " You hear the voices of the people that care most about you, but you just cannot talk to them. They are literally ready to come kick your door down to make sure you haven't been kidnapped by a crazed serial killer, or lying dead on the floor from some freak household accident. Some may become offended and think you are just plain rude for not returning their calls. Others may start to think they have offended you in some way and begin to wonder what they did to upset you. Others may give up calling altogether. If only there was a way for them not to take it so personally. However, that would require them to understand depression, and unfortunately most people don't.