Worst Advice You've Ever Received or Heard...

Something very simple, actually. 4 words. Something that I am sure that a whole lot of people have heard in their lives and it has never helped a single person feel better or have the effect intended:
'Just get over it.'

Or any variation thereof.

 

My (Male)co-workers and my old boss kept telling me to get myself a prostitute...That they only cost a little over $20......
Well, first of all, I'm Gay, I wouldn't have sex with a woman even if it was free...And secondly, even if I was Straight, I would never do such a thing...At least my boss had the decency to tell me to always use protection when doing that...But still, it's awful sex advice...

 

My best friend told me that yesterday after I said I was depressed. She was supportive and all but at the end of the conversation she said something that sounded just like this...

 

I am really sorry to hear that. I've had that said to me a lot myself from people who are otherwise supportive. I don't think they realize or even mean it as the destructive comment it is. The problem with it is that it intrinsically trivializes whatever you are going through. :\

 

"Get a stable, career-minded job first. Then you can go chase your dreams."

...and no, I didn't.

Lex

 

"Go see a therapist, they'll make you better"

 

Well one time when I was at my old school my teacher told me to drop out of high school.

 

"Why don't you just stop?" on SI. :\

 

:lol: omg!

I hope you didn't listen to that asshole :eusa_doh:

 

"Maybe you should just ignore it."

Yes, because ignoring problems has always done so well. The evidence of this is outstanding.....Outstandingly lacking.

 

"Why don't you just calm down? / You should calm down / Calm down"

​

 

Oh man. That one always gets to me. It always has the exact opposite effect. If I'm mad, it definitely fuels the rage fire. XP

 

The first person I ever came out to about my gender identity was a previous therapist. She told me I should go to school, get a house and job and if its still bothering me I can "deal with it"

I don't see that therapist anymore.

 

"You're young just live and have fun and don't worry about grades or school."

This is the advice and the beliefs that have got my friends in some depressing situations when time rolls around for college. It's just such an all around bad idea.

 

"It gets better"

 

"Don't worry. Everything will slide into place."

That was my social worker's motto about dealing with life.

And warnings such as 'DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME'

 

"But you don't have it that bad. Let me tell you about the time I [fought off a T-Rex/divorced my vicious ex-wife who had taken lessons from Rambo/lost my cat in a tragic flood/etc.] Your problems are child's play." [I was actually told a variation of this by my therapist after a highly unpleasant encounter with a man in a hotel room].

 

"It is what it is."

You must really like to hear yourself speak if you're spouting tautologies like they're sage wisdom. Stop wasting my air, please.

 

Well, someone suggested I smoke some pot to "chill" even though I have a horrible anxiety disorder and I am the paranoia queen when high. Worst thing possible for my anxiety, except perhaps hard stimulants like coke. :rolle:

Other than that, stuff like:

"Just don't be like that (gay/bi/sad/anorexic/anxious)."
"Why don't you just stop doing that (generally something addictive or compulsive or personal)?"
And as mentioned, the oh-so-thoughtful "get over it."