“Could be worse” has to be one of the most useless sayings I know. Think about it, if someone is already depressed the last thing they want you to is increase that depression by reminding them that things they think are safe in their life could collapse around them. It’s like they are almost daring you to say “Oh? How can it be worse?”
“Oh never mind. It could be worse; you could have lost your job or have a horrific car accident”
Seriously how does that help?
Or they go down the other route by saying something like “There’s children in Africa starving, are you starving?” Which not only makes you more depressed but now you also feel guilty that you don’t help them or take food for granted.
And the voice they use. I hate that voice, it’s laced with patronising tones, and you can see that little glint in their eye that can only mean one thing. They know they have a better life than you do right now!
Yeah you’re right, me being stuck in a shitty job where everyone thinks you’re just a little bit stranger than they are used to and the only way they can deal with that is to make my life a living hell by spreading lies, not talking to me and generally boycotting my every move is far better than being starving or having a terminal illness. I get it, there are some people out there who have a worse life then me and I sympathise with them and wish I could help them but rite now I feel like shit.
“Could be worse” is possibly the most unhelpful saying it belongs in a hole surrounded by phrases like “If you don’t help yourself, I’m not helping you” or “There’s plenty more fish in the sea”.
