Sarah Moore
Depression is all-consuming. And one of the hardest parts is feeling alone. When you feel like no one understands you, it makes it harder to cope.
And it can be hard to find the words to truly describe how you feel.
That’s why some individuals prefer not to tell anyone how they feel. While some aren’t even aware that they’re suffering from depression.
Not sure whether you’re depressed? Let’s first define what depression is and signs to look out for.
What Is Depression?
It’s completely normal to feel sad from time to time. These feelings usually come and go. But if feelings of sadness become debilitating, it could be a sign of depression.
Depression, also called “clinical depression” or “depressive disorder”, causes distressing symptoms that affect how you feel, think, act, or handle day-to-day activities. In fact, it can also lead to emotional and physical problems.
To be diagnosed with this mood disorder, symptoms must last for at least 2 weeks. Sadness is one of the many symptoms of depression. Different individuals can have different symptoms. But here are a few to watch out for:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or anxiousness
- Feeling “empty”
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Feelings of worthlessness or helplessness
- Loss of energy, increased fatigue, and difficulty sleeping
- Changes in appetite
- You constantly think about negative things
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Feeling restless and irritable
- Body aches, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Remember these symptoms are not meant to be used to diagnose.
There are also instances where a medical condition exhibits symptoms similar to depression, like thyroid problems or vitamin deficiency. Additionally, depression symptoms can also occur with other illnesses.
That said, it’s best to seek a healthcare professional.
Depression is a serious disorder. But with proper diagnosis and treatment, those who struggle with depression will overcome it.
If you or anyone you know is depressed, the first step is to seek help. If a loved one is struggling, here are a few things you can do:
- Offer your support.
- Be patient, understanding, and encourage them to seek professional help
- Never ignore their cries for help.
- Walk with them. Invite them for outings or other activities you can do together. Let them know that you’re there.
- Help them adhere to the treatment plan. For instance, you can remind them to take prescribed medications.
- Remind them that with proper treatment, depression will lift.
If you’re the one who’s struggling, reach out to family or friends. Let them know about your concerns. Most importantly, seek professional help.
But if you’re finding it hard to find the right words, consider sharing a quote on depression. In doing so, you can open channels of communication.
In the next section, we’ve curated some of the most heartfelt depression quotes. We hope that these quotes will somehow capture what you’re feeling.
Whether you laugh or cry, these quotes on depression will make you feel less alone.
12 Relatable Quotes For Depression
“It’s so difficult to describe depression to someone who’s never been there, because it’s not sadness. I know sadness. Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it’s that cold absence of feeling— that really hollowed-out feeling.” – J.K Rowling
“I didn’t want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that’s really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you’re so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.” – Ned Vizzini, It’s Kind of a Funny Story
“With each step I took, I felt myself sinking deeper into a quicksand where my identity vanished; it was the same emotion I’d had on the plane, flying over Egypt. This wasn’t me walking in the moonlight. It wasn’t me but a stand-in, fashioned out of plaster.” – Haruki Murakami, Man-Eating Cats
“Sometimes I just think depression’s one way of coping with the world. Like, some people get drunk, some do drugs, some people get depressed. Because there’s so much stuff out there that you have to do something to deal with it.” – Ned Vizzini, author
“That’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end.” – Elizabeth Wurtzel, Prozac Nation
“Listen to the people who love you. Believe that they are worth living for even when you don’t believe it. Seek out the memories depression takes away and project them into the future. Be brave; be strong; take your pills. Exercise because it’s good for you even if every step weighs a thousand pounds. Eat when food itself disgusts you. Reason with yourself when you have lost your reason.” – Andrew Solomon, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
“Whether an illness affects your heart, your arm, or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there shouldn’t be any distinction. We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We don’t consider taking medication for an ear infection something to be ashamed of. We shouldn’t treat mental health conditions any differently. Instead, we should make it clear that getting help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength—and we should ensure that people can get the treatment they need.” – Michelle Obama, former first lady
“You know, sometimes I feel like I was born with a leak, and any goodness I started with just slowly spilled out of me, and now it’s all gone. And I’ll never get it back in me. It’s too late. Life is a series of closing doors, isn’t it?” – Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Bojack Horseman
“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.”― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
“Whatever you’re feeling right now there is a mathematical certainty that someone else is feeling that exact thing. This is not to say you’re not special, this is to say thank god you aren’t special.” – Neil Hilborn, This Is Not The End Of The World
“The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can’t get away from it. Not ever.” – Nina LaCour, Hold Still
“You say you’re ‘depressed’ – all I see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn’t mean you’re defective – it just means you’re human.” – David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas
If You’re Depressed, Help Is Available
Don’t know where to find help?
First, check out the help page of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website. There are also other organizations, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, that offer support groups and other resources. These agencies will help you fight depression and other mental illnesses.
Additionally, think about seeking online help from mental health professionals. Or contact your local mental health center.
If you’re in a crisis, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); TYY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889).