50 Affirmations for Depression

affirmations for depression

Your mind is a battlefield. That’s what being depressed feels like.

The negative self-talk is one of the most debilitating parts of the illness. 

It makes you beat yourself up for your imperfections. Or blame yourself over negative events that happened. It also makes you believe that you’re a failure.

Focusing on these negative thoughts will further cultivate feelings of helplessness. So how do you find your way out of the darkness?

Counter negative thinking with affirmation.

These are positive statements that will help shift your mindset. These are scripts you can say over and over to yourself. Practicing affirmation for depression daily will mold your subconscious towards a more positive note.

Your Thoughts Affect Your Reality

Being depressed doesn’t only affect how you feel. It also affects your perception making them murky and muddled.

It’s like placing black ink into clear water. The more you entertain negative self-talk, the more it clouds your judgment and perception. 

That said, your thoughts affect your reality.

Thankfully, you’re capable of changing your perspective. And daily positive affirmations will help you in adopting a positive mindset.

I know what you’re thinking.

“Will reciting an affirmation daily really make me feel better?

I get it. It’s completely normal to be skeptical. 

But just like how negative self-talk impacts your mental health, positive statements will also change your perception as well as the way you feel.

In fact, in a study done at Arizona State University, experts agreed that affirmation is a helpful practice when recovering from anxiety and depression.

Of course, you should also seek professional help. But practicing positive self-talk should also be embraced.

So How Do You Practice Affirmation?

Affirmations are only effective when you’re committed to practicing them consistently.

Some statements may be hard to believe. But, with practice, believing them will get easier. More importantly, it helps you to be more conscious of your thoughts.

When negative thinking starts, you can flip the switch and start thinking of good things. 

That said, it’s best to practice positive self-talk every day. Be kind to yourself even when you find it hard in the beginning. 

In the next section, we’ve listed 50 positive affirmations for depression that’ll bring you comfort and peace.

But before that, here are a few simple tips:

Think About Your Good Qualities

It’s hard to feel good about yourself when you’re depressed. Your confidence will be close to non-existent. That’s why it can be hard to think about your unique qualities.

But as part of your healing, you need to make a conscious effort to think about them. Write down the qualities that make you unique or special. 

Replace Bad Thoughts With Good Ones

What goes through your mind? Do you have negative perceptions of yourself?

Don’t worry about them and simply write down everything. 

Now, replace these negative self-scripts with positive ones. You can use the things you’ve written from the first tip!

Think About Your Life Goals

Being depressed feels like having a fog over your mind. You can’t see past your current situation. But despite the darkness, there’s always some glimmer of hope.

Hold on to that. Think about the things you want to accomplish. What goals do you want to achieve?

As you continue to feel better – through professional help or practice of affirmation or both, you’ll have more energy to work towards these. 

So write them down.

Dedicate a Few Minutes to Practice These Positive Statements

First of all, write down these statements on a notecard. Or post them in a mirror. Or use post-its and place them around your house, work, or car. 

Whenever you see these statements, think about what they mean to you.

Secondly, set aside time to practice affirmation. It’s best to spend a few minutes meditating. In doing so, you’ll be more attuned to your feelings.

Ready to get started?

50 Depression Affirmations to Improve Your Mental Health

  1. It’s only a thought and a thought can be changed.

  1. I’m in control of my thoughts. And I will only entertain those that are good and nurturing.

  1. I am loved and I am worthy of the love that people are willing to give me.

  1. It’s okay to make mistakes. The important thing is to learn and grow from it.

  1. I’m a work in progress. I am growing and learning to find ways to solve my problems.

  1. I am valued even when I’m not productive.

  1. I’m loved despite my sadness and anxieties.

  1. Life is an amazing gift. I’m thankful to be alive.

  1. As long as there is life, there is hope. 

  1. I am worthy of the support that people are willing to give to me.

  1. I’m more than my sadness and problems. It doesn’t make me less of a person.

  1. I deserve all that is good.

  1. My feelings are valid. I acknowledge being sad but I also acknowledge the moments that made me happy and peaceful.

  1. How I feel matters. I will concentrate on what makes me feel good.

  1. Challenges open up to better opportunities. Hardships allow me to learn and grow.

  1. My past doesn’t define me. It’s over and I choose to focus on what’s happening right now.

  1. I choose to be happy and grateful.

  1. I am worthy of an amazing life.

  1. I am worthy of joy, peace, and love.

  1. Today is a fresh start.

  1. I am safe. I am okay. 

  1. I’m not selfish for focusing on my happiness.

  1. I’m in the healing process. I get better day by day.

  1. Today, I will not stress over the things that are out of my control.

  1. I’ll always keep trying. 

  1. I will not compare myself to anyone.

  1. I am enough.

  1. I’m grateful for everything I have right now.

  1. I can speak up for myself.

  1. I attract love and positivity.

  1. I’ve felt this way before and got through it. I can get through hard things.

  1. Mistakes and setbacks are normal. I’ll use them as stepping stones towards my goals.

  1. I’m proud of myself.

  1. There will be bad days but I will overcome them willingly and with joy.

  1. I don’t have to prove myself to my family, friends, or to anyone.

  1. I attract healthy and loving relationships.

  1. Perfection isn’t a requirement. I’m at peace with my imperfections.

  1. I am strong enough to overcome challenges and hardships.

  1. Nourishing myself is an act of love. I do so joyfully.

  1. It’s okay to spend time on my healing.

  1. I am safe, calm, and happy.

  1. I let go of my need to always be perfect and in control of everything.

  1. My future is filled with hope, peace, and contentment.

  1. I’m in control of my life. I refuse to be a victim of my circumstances.

  1. I accept my flaws and acknowledge my weaknesses. And despite all these, I love myself unconditionally.

  1. I’m allowed to seek help. It doesn’t make me a weak person.

  1. I deserve to be surrounded by good people who will support me and lift me up.

  1. Cutting off toxic, negative people isn’t selfish. It is important for my mental health and well-being.

  1. I am content and happy where I am right now.

  1. It’s okay to not be okay some days. What’s important is to get back up and try again.

Remember, these affirmations for depression aren’t an instant fix. Simply reciting these statements for a few minutes won’t magically make you feel all better. 

What’s important is to keep at it!

By practicing these positive statements and making it a part of your routine, you will slowly feel better. You’ll feel more confident and start seeing results.