Idk if I just lack empathy but Junwoo is getting on my nerves. I know he has mental issues...

I've been where Junwoo is right now and all I can say is how I experienced it myself. When you're in such a dark place and you don't feel anything but sadness and misery, your vision gets clouded and you can't see further than yourself. The only thing you think about is this dark mass inside of you that's tearing at you everyday, every hour, every minute. So by having to deal with all these emotions and unhappiness you feel wronged by the world and you feel even more miserable seeing other people your age being so much further in life and just happy to boot, something which to him is absolutely unattainable. I understand why he feels like everyone should understand him, because in his eyes everyone else is doing well, they don't have issues like these in their life. I absolutely get why you're annoyed but maybe this helps you understand Junwoos thoughts and behaviour a little more. If you do have have questions go ahead and ask me, but damn I gotta say this Manhwa hits close to home for me

Thank you so much for your insight!

comments like yours are the reason people are afraid of seeking help and getting therapy

it's difficult. I've been on both sides of this coin - suffering from severe MI and taking care of others who have it - and when you're in that dark place, you can act in selfish ways. it can make you very difficult to deal with. it's hard to juggle empathy for the person you care about and your own needs. Joowon is suffering, but that doesn't mean his behaviour is okay, or that he is exempt from responsibility. he desperately needs help, but those in his life need to take care of themselves, too.

no one should ever be made to feel like a burden though. MI, especially depression, is unfortunately not just a 'one person' illness. it affects the person suffering, and those around them as well. that's where the guilt comes in. when I was in my darkest place, I kept all of my problems to myself, because I was terrified of being seen as guilting other people with my problems, or burdening them. I felt like dying would be a gift to those who cared about me. I would relieve them of my burden.

It's really dreadful. This story is heavy. I feel so deeply for Joowon but it's also difficult to watch him lash out at everyone around him when they are just trying to help. He acts selfishly. Hanbit is right; just because he's suffering, it does not mean he has the right to treat others however he wants. MI is not an excuse to hurt others; they have the right to be hurt and upset by it.

Sorry, this ended up just being kind of a rambling, stream of consciousness comment lol

Thank you for your answer that was very clear. I still have questions about it because I don't get what he wants from others. When Wooyeon tries to help him, he asks to be left alone but when he is alone, he is sad not to have someone by his side. That's what I don't understand. Also, I don't really get why he prefers Hanbit's support over Wooyeon's because they are more or less saying the same things.
In short, what's the right thing to do to help him or people in the same situation ?

Sorry I didn't have the intention of doing so. Now thinking about it, I would think it's the opposite. My comment showed that some people failed to understand depressive behavior and that looking for help from professionals is the best thing to do

Don't be sorry lol your comment made me understand that what I don't like about Junwoo is his behavior toward others thanks for that it wasn't clear even for me.
I am sorry for what you experienced I hope you are fine now I didn't think that guilt could be such an important matter.

I feel and see it the same way. However, I've been sitting here for about an hour now trying to pick up somewhere and I can't organize my thoughts in such a way that I can communicate it as clearly and understandably and to the point as you just did. Chapeau(!) and thanks! Thank you because I find such civilized discussions on this complex topic, as they finally take place here, incredibly important. Mental illness is still far too little in the general discussion. So in such a way that people who are not affected learn to understand it at least a little bit. Even if we, the affected, do not "understand" ourselves most of the time. I think it is important to build a bridge so that certain prejudices and stigmas finally stop. And also for the understanding of these disorders. But it is also important to talk about the fact that, as you have already said, it is not only very difficult for the affected people themselves, but also for the healthy people around them. Just as it is important that they too should protect themselves and not let too much get to them. Or even seek further appropriate support. It is not so rare that especially those people, who are very close to the affected person, get problems themselves at some point. "MI, especially depression, is unfortunately not just a 'one person' illness." Absolutely! This sentence hits the nail on the head!

I myself know both sides in a way. The "helping" side (if you can call it that), but not by choice. In the beginning this webcomic was just a pastime for me, or better said a distraction. In the meantime (from the time Wooyeon came out) I associate much more with it. In the positive and in the bad. Sometimes it hits me more than I would like to admit. But at the same time I also find it interesting. Among other things, also because I find it to be frighteningly realistic. And because I have been in a very similar situation as the two protagonists for years. I recognize so much that it almost frightens me. Especially the last situation. Unfortunately I have to say to my shame that I am the toxic and/or more aggressive person in the relationship. My boyfriend is the quieter part. Often too "calm" or passive. And yes, it's difficult as hell to deal with each other. But I can also say that we both benefit from each other. It's probably because of the different disorders. In the depressive phase I am quite similar to him anyway and there are much less conflicts. Since I am also calmer then. But in the manic phase it looks completely different. And that is where our personal "secret recipe" comes into play. I often pull him out of his passivity because I demand it. He, on the other hand, slows me down and calms me down a bit. Ying-Yang principle. We are complementing each other. This happens in the hypomanic phase and in the "positive" parts of mania. Unfortunately, the latter of course also has its huge downsides. Especially for someone who suffers from depression. But basically it works somehow. So that what Hanbit is trying to do here might even work. Both would "cure" each other. Where in our case I should mention that we are both in therapy. Personally, I think that professional support is important. But I also know that it's not for everyone.

Oh well … what did you just say about rambling!? ;-)

Hello again, and thank you for you nice reply, I don't really know why he prefers hanbits help in comparison to Woyeons. The thing with wanting to be alone but also wanting someone to help you. I can again only speak from my perspective but back when I was depressed I wanted to be alone and not pretend like I am OK in front of others. When I was alone in my room I could cry and yell into my pillow without people asking questions I couldn't answer or making comments that just hurt me more. I couldn't put into words how awful I felt, I still can't, and that would lead to questions like "why are you sad?" that I couldn't answer because I had no clue myself. So instead of dealing with situations like that where you just get hurt, you just prefer people not talking to you at all. You can see these situations in the story as well, with the subject being that Junwoo likes to just stay inside and all everyone keeps talking about or hinting to him is for him to leave his bubble. On the other end as soon as you are alone you spend too much time in you head, you wish for someone to understand you to listen to you and to make the pain go away. But deep inside you know there isn't anyone like that. So the way I take it he's desperately trying not to get hurt by others but he's also seeking for love and understanding at the same time.
I hope I could answer some questions of yours. This is more like an inner monologue which is why it might not make a lot of sense to you, so if it doesn't go ahead and say so and I'll try to rephrase it^^