Canadian author Michael Redhill frequently explores the intricacies of human emotions in his literary works, which include novels and short stories. According to one of his perceptive observations regarding depression, those who are afflicted with the illness possess a remarkable capacity for empathy and empathy. They can be very encouraging friends to people around them because of this trait.

According to Redhill, depression is like a thick cloak composed only of empathy. People who are going through it can readily sense the burdens of others and offer great consolation and empathy. That same empathy, though, makes it hard for them to examine themselves and treat themselves with kindness. They appear to wear glasses that blur their own reflection while making it easier to see the suffering of others.

Redhill draws attention to a paradox: people who are depressed are very sensitive to other people's emotions, but they frequently have trouble being compassionate with themselves. This is due to the fact that having a sense of self—being completely conscious of one's own thoughts and feelings—is difficult by nature. It comes easily to people who are depressed to comprehend this inner turmoil in others, but it seems impossible to apply the same empathy to their own suffering.

Essentially, Redhill's viewpoint provides a complex understanding of depression by highlighting the interconnectedness of self-awareness and sympathetic suffering. It serves as a reminder that although we frequently try to assist those in our lives who are in pain, it can sometimes be just as crucial to show ourselves the same compassion and understanding.