Person Lists 13 Symptoms Of Depression That No One Talks About And People Are Applauding The Post
Social media often brings out the worst in people. It can be a place of conflicts, taunting, a real center of hate. But not to 19-year-old mental health activist Emily. She uses it to spread compassion and facilitate growth.
Recently, she posted a Twitter thread about the lesser-known symptoms of depression. In it, Emily tackles themes like dissociation and self-destructive behavior, issues we rarely see in our feed but are no less significant than politics or celebrity life. After all, everything starts within.
So let’s take a break from the outside world and focus on the inner one. Continue scrolling and check out what Emily has to say. Trust me, it’s worthwhile.
More info: authenticallyemily.co.uk | Twitter
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Image credits: emkburke
Emily told Bored Panda she never really planned to talk about these things on social media. “One day I just started tweeting about my experiences. I had a lot of things inside of me that I wanted to say. Or maybe even I needed to say, to start to process the things which had happened to me. The more I found that others related to the things I posted and the more I became a part of a sort of community on Twitter, the more fire I had within me to speak out even more, and even louder,” she explained. “The power of social media is really quite something. I can connect with people all over the world, with different experiences, upbringings, and cultures. I learn so much every single day. I also find a lot of comfort from finding others who have experienced similar to me. It reminds me that I’m not alone.”
Her mental health journey over the years has been very rocky. “My panic attacks started when I was 13, shortly after my grandfather passed away and I went on a school trip to Belgium to look at the war memorials. This trip really triggered something in me,” Emily recalled. From then on, her panic attacks and anxiety consumed her life.
“I was terrified to go anywhere. I didn’t want to leave the house. I started self-harming. Then I developed OCD, I believe as a way to try to get more control over my anxiety. Soon though, this got out of my control too. I slipped into depression and attempted suicide for the first time when I was 16. I was admitted to an adolescent psychiatric unit for 3 months and this was the start of two years in and out of the hospital for self-harm and suicide. Thankfully, I am no longer in that dark place. I am healing every day. I am carving out a purpose for myself and living in the future which I never thought would exist.”
“I am autistic, and I hate it when I am told to not let this define me. Being autistic shapes every part of me. It defines how I see the world. It defines my intense passions and interests. It’s not a bad thing that this defines me,” Emily explained. “However, my mental health diagnoses I suppose don’t define me in that there is more to me than my mental illnesses. I love horse riding. I love to read and write. I love spending time with my friends and family. My day is no longer defined by my mental illnesses like how they once consumed every waking thought. This took a great deal of time though, and therapy. It didn’t happen overnight.”
Depression is common. WHO estimates that it affects more than 264 million worldwide. “Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life,” the organization writes on its website. “Especially when long-lasting and with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school, and in the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.” Close to 800,000 people end their lives every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.
The thread instantly sparked an important conversation
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Maybe what makes these symptoms even more painful is when they are being downplayed and branded as "just drama"...
every f*****g time, or it's just in your head, u r lazy
Load More Replies...*hug* It brought me to tears as well..fighting your own brain is so damn exhausting..and when you add all this bloody virus drama to it, it feels damn near impossible. I'm trying to keep a small business running, deal with PTSD flashbacks and find a place to live after being evicted in March. I f*****g hate it..
Load More Replies...So that’s whats happening with me. Can’t sleep. I’m usually active in my studies. Right now my exams are coming and I don’t know anything. O feel sad and guilty cuz my Dad trusts me and always says that he knows I’ll do well and if not he knows I did my best. But I’m not doing anything. Makes me want to cry. I say I’ll do this today. End up sleeping or scrolling on my phone.
Talk to him or write to him but let him know. I'm a Mum & IDGAF about anything as much as my children's health & well-being EVERYTHING else can wait. Our priority is always to help our children, to advocate for them & support them when they're having troubles. You can defer, catch up later or get a medical exemption but please try & ask for help it's what parents (& Dr's) are there for.
Load More Replies...Hello all, having some experience with helping those suffering from depression and anxiety (usually co-occurring), if non traditional modalities fail to get results, ie. SSRI's, MAOI's etc., traditional antidepressants, do whatever it takes to feel better. Seek out non traditional therapy from a board certified M.D., psychotherapist that are trained in such modalities. Such as rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation), Ketamine infusion therapy, MDMA assisted therapy, Medical marijuana (CBD) from the plant, Ayahuasca (DMT) assisted therapy. Take a neurotransmitter test (ZRT) which shows you exactly what neuros you are deficient in, such as seratonin, dopamine, glutimate, PEA, GABA, and the like. Examine the root cause of your depression. What caused it? Life event? (divorce, job loss, trauma, abuse) Unresolved childhood issues ? (absent parents) only then can you properly beat depression and anxiety into submission. Eat healthy, exercise and boost neuros via nootropics ♥️
Ketamine??? Even the ambulance service are reluctant to use that
Load More Replies...I hate arguing with people who truly believe it's just "mind over matter" and you can deal with depression by deciding you aren't going to be depressed anymore. If we could 'think' ourselves healthy, why don't we?
Wow, I've been struggling with mental illness since I was 12, reading this I feel like someone else knows and gets it...it's a difficult enough struggle but people misunderstanding makes it even harder. I also don't appreciate people that have been sad saying they know what depression is like because there is a vast difference. People who mistake clinical depression for sadness will call you weak or lazy. If you are lazy you will still do things that you love, you will still enjoy your hobbies, you will still be able to eat and shower and brush your teeth...you will still be able to do what needs to be done. Now on medication I still get sad, I still get lazy but I am also able to take care of myself and do what needs to be done most days...without meds...nope.
As a person who has severe depression that flares up from time to time getting so bad that things that I regret. These are so important for anyone who is suffering and anyone who knows someone suffering from depression. It's not black and white like everyone thinks. Please stay safe everyone, and I believe that you can get through it, even if you don't think you can. ❤
It's a good start that people are talking about the symptoms, and we should move on to the next step : how to deal with various levels of depression. I for one would welcome recommendations, having checked several of the symptoms...
My psychologist recommended doing one good thing for yourself every day, like calling a friend, talking to someone on the internet..pat a doggy or hug a kitty or a stuffed toy, or buy yourself your favourite chocolate. Won't always help and it may not work for everyone but it's something to try. Hugs to you all xxx
Load More Replies...I'm struggling with all of these. I was diagnosed several years ago, but I got better with therapy, medication, exercise, etc. Right now I'm fighting again. I faced some big losses in the last few months, and now I'm going down again and feeling like I'm going to lose the fight this time. It's really discouraging reading through this list and seeing that I have all the symptoms, but I have to keep going. I love my cats and dog, and I have to take care of them.
Sometimes don't you question yourself whether what you're feeling is even real because when you look at others everything just seems so easy for them maybe all's in my head,a bunch of b******t that I think I feel to hide my f*****g incompetence and inabilities.The shittiest thing one can do is come up to me and tell me that it explains my worthlessness but doesn't excuse it.It's all so very pointless,even these discussion,who's actually reading this to find strength?
We DO have to talk more about depression. MOST IMPORTANT : the only way to get rid of this feeling that kills us everyday is TO BE ALIVE !!!
Depression is horrible. It puts your life on hold and you become nothing more but a shadow of yourself. Depression is a thief of happiness and makes you numb to it, and in some cases, you are spending your days waiting for a time to come where you have the courage to end it all. Not ending it so that others will feel sorry for you, but so that you will no longer worry, waste your life, and get in other people's way. Depression destroys relationships and drives others away from you as well as destroying your ability to function because of the insane tiredness and forgetfulness that comes with it and also the fact you have given up on life. You feel nothing more than a disappointment and an example of who not to be and just a joke of a person in general.
I did not realize that a lot of these things were symptoms of depression. It's good to know that it's not all just in my head and that when I am physical pain as well as emotional that there is a reason.
These symptoms are right on and imagine experiencing these for approximately 37 years. It is incredibly draining and guess I have actually done well because I'm still trying to keep going.
I'm 77 years old and have been living with depression for 77 years. When I was young, I would do whatever every one was doing. I was embarrassed, ashamed, lonely, tired, frightened of everything. Every few months I would become enraged and feared I would harm someone. I have a constant dialogue in my head spinning around the past, the present and the future mistakes. My inglorious failure at life.
Thank you for sharing, Annamay. You might feel like a failure at life, but something tells me you've made an incredible effort living with depression for so long. I imagine much of that would have been during times when it really wasn't understood, recognised or talked about, which must have made it even more difficult. Congratulations on getting through 77 years. I hope today is a better day. Sending love your way <3
Load More Replies...So glad that someone is telling the truth about chronic depression. The worst thing is that it feels like you’re faking illness even when you can’t do anything useful.
I think the biggest one for me - because it blew a friend away in higschool that I understood (she didn't know she had depression) is feeling bad for no reason. Like, "Hey, you okay?" "Yeah, I'm just kind of upset today." "Why?" *Shrugs* "Just one of those days where you feel awful for no reason, huh?" Cue my friend freaking out because someone understood.
Being angry and easily being set off into rages, suicidal and even homicidal ideation, the need to constantly distract yourself as your brain runs at 1000mph through all of the things in your life that didn't even bother you at the time, inability to sleep for a full day and a half followed by sleeping for 16 hours, inability to regulate sleep, inability to regulate diet - either over eating or under eating. Lack of care for health and wellbeing ie eating wrong, drinking too much, taking drugs, risky behaviour like crossing the street without looking, engaging with risky people, promiscuous behaviour, flat out not caring about yourself your life other people or taking pleasure from anything you used to enjoy doing. Blurting out personal details inappropriately to people you know or don't know. Seeing nothing in your future but the same thing. Realising that, suffering from chronic treatment resistant major depressive disorder means you WILL, in fact, feel like this forever..
Even with treatment resistant depression, there’s always something that can be tried, if you look hard enough: exercise, diet, painting, anything; it needs to be worked out with the person who’s suffering .
Load More Replies...A major U.S. hospital is doing trials of psylicibin (mushrooms) used in a very safe situation, with preparation & a guide & therapy, with very, very good results. One session of psylicibin is said to relieve depression for 6 mos. to a year. Others are investigating ketamine with good results, although not as good as psylicibin. Marijuana helps some, although I don't know which strains. Non-THC CBD oil helps some, but there is a huge variability in brands, and some do apparently nothing, despite the expense. Hold on. We value you.
I believe Ketamine is already approved for use in the U.S., although finding a physician might not be easy. I believe Cleveland Clinic prohibits all of their doctors from prescribing, which I believe should be illegal.
Load More Replies...I have been depressed my whole life mut it has been worse about 2 years. Usually it comes and goes but now it's quite nonstop😑 these symptoms feels so familiar
Its been a year now. I cried for 2 days straight because I wanted to study fine arts but my parents made me take medical instead. Now I just dont know what I am doing. I can literally spend a whole friking day on my phone , I skiped my date of periods 5-6 time . I can't remember something for a log term which is making me give up on the idea that I can do anything. I still think that all of this is my fault. I just have phone addiction but I am scared of being on my own in this journey. Being like this for over a month feels like now I can't even do arts. My parents are doctors and Indian so I am doomed. I dont know if I am insecure but I think my arms are thinner than my body. Making up senarios in my head is the only think that makes me happy. Even if I read this whole paragraph again I still won't believe that I have depression. For me I am just acting or just an adict who is searching for a reason for wasting her life . I am 16 and I j
Thanks for post, i am so depressed and cried. how many people don't understand and others just mock you. I have been a successful Blogger - First person in our family or relatives to earn in USD from india. it was good, then the OCD, Negative Thougts and depression. Sucked up/sucking my life. I live for my parents - i don't want to kill myself and make them sad for their life. i am the one for them. I work as a designer now. But while comparing previous one. I in bottom. and thank you god and parents prayer. I have ideas written in note to create/ ideas which i like to began a new company or business. Sometimes i feel myself in bad thoughts i don't write it and it gone from my brain. Respect and support. Depression person who are creative hurt more. The brain is sucked up. Please go forward. We can fight. HOPE is good.
it could be worse, so look up... or perhaps you didn't want to burden us by mentioning different types of severe complications such as schizophrenia (all manner of different types & flavors), catatonia, negative side effects due to efforts at self-treatment, religious psychosis, paranoia, psychotic outbursts (they only happen at the most embarrassing time possible), delusions of grandeur and other delusions, unstable work history causing unemployment and poverty, chronic social isolation, the list goes on and on... what a nightmare...
Really? In your attempt to sound 'smart' or poetic, you've posted a comment that could be very dangerous if someone dealing with those feelings reads it. From a person that does experience those thoughts nearly every day, I'd recommend thinking before you post this stuff. It's idiotic and irresponsible. Also, everyone can see when you upvote your own comments- vote manipulation is rather cringey.
Load More Replies...Maybe what makes these symptoms even more painful is when they are being downplayed and branded as "just drama"...
every f*****g time, or it's just in your head, u r lazy
Load More Replies...*hug* It brought me to tears as well..fighting your own brain is so damn exhausting..and when you add all this bloody virus drama to it, it feels damn near impossible. I'm trying to keep a small business running, deal with PTSD flashbacks and find a place to live after being evicted in March. I f*****g hate it..
Load More Replies...So that’s whats happening with me. Can’t sleep. I’m usually active in my studies. Right now my exams are coming and I don’t know anything. O feel sad and guilty cuz my Dad trusts me and always says that he knows I’ll do well and if not he knows I did my best. But I’m not doing anything. Makes me want to cry. I say I’ll do this today. End up sleeping or scrolling on my phone.
Talk to him or write to him but let him know. I'm a Mum & IDGAF about anything as much as my children's health & well-being EVERYTHING else can wait. Our priority is always to help our children, to advocate for them & support them when they're having troubles. You can defer, catch up later or get a medical exemption but please try & ask for help it's what parents (& Dr's) are there for.
Load More Replies...Hello all, having some experience with helping those suffering from depression and anxiety (usually co-occurring), if non traditional modalities fail to get results, ie. SSRI's, MAOI's etc., traditional antidepressants, do whatever it takes to feel better. Seek out non traditional therapy from a board certified M.D., psychotherapist that are trained in such modalities. Such as rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation), Ketamine infusion therapy, MDMA assisted therapy, Medical marijuana (CBD) from the plant, Ayahuasca (DMT) assisted therapy. Take a neurotransmitter test (ZRT) which shows you exactly what neuros you are deficient in, such as seratonin, dopamine, glutimate, PEA, GABA, and the like. Examine the root cause of your depression. What caused it? Life event? (divorce, job loss, trauma, abuse) Unresolved childhood issues ? (absent parents) only then can you properly beat depression and anxiety into submission. Eat healthy, exercise and boost neuros via nootropics ♥️
Ketamine??? Even the ambulance service are reluctant to use that
Load More Replies...I hate arguing with people who truly believe it's just "mind over matter" and you can deal with depression by deciding you aren't going to be depressed anymore. If we could 'think' ourselves healthy, why don't we?
Wow, I've been struggling with mental illness since I was 12, reading this I feel like someone else knows and gets it...it's a difficult enough struggle but people misunderstanding makes it even harder. I also don't appreciate people that have been sad saying they know what depression is like because there is a vast difference. People who mistake clinical depression for sadness will call you weak or lazy. If you are lazy you will still do things that you love, you will still enjoy your hobbies, you will still be able to eat and shower and brush your teeth...you will still be able to do what needs to be done. Now on medication I still get sad, I still get lazy but I am also able to take care of myself and do what needs to be done most days...without meds...nope.
As a person who has severe depression that flares up from time to time getting so bad that things that I regret. These are so important for anyone who is suffering and anyone who knows someone suffering from depression. It's not black and white like everyone thinks. Please stay safe everyone, and I believe that you can get through it, even if you don't think you can. ❤
It's a good start that people are talking about the symptoms, and we should move on to the next step : how to deal with various levels of depression. I for one would welcome recommendations, having checked several of the symptoms...
My psychologist recommended doing one good thing for yourself every day, like calling a friend, talking to someone on the internet..pat a doggy or hug a kitty or a stuffed toy, or buy yourself your favourite chocolate. Won't always help and it may not work for everyone but it's something to try. Hugs to you all xxx
Load More Replies...I'm struggling with all of these. I was diagnosed several years ago, but I got better with therapy, medication, exercise, etc. Right now I'm fighting again. I faced some big losses in the last few months, and now I'm going down again and feeling like I'm going to lose the fight this time. It's really discouraging reading through this list and seeing that I have all the symptoms, but I have to keep going. I love my cats and dog, and I have to take care of them.
Sometimes don't you question yourself whether what you're feeling is even real because when you look at others everything just seems so easy for them maybe all's in my head,a bunch of b******t that I think I feel to hide my f*****g incompetence and inabilities.The shittiest thing one can do is come up to me and tell me that it explains my worthlessness but doesn't excuse it.It's all so very pointless,even these discussion,who's actually reading this to find strength?
We DO have to talk more about depression. MOST IMPORTANT : the only way to get rid of this feeling that kills us everyday is TO BE ALIVE !!!
Depression is horrible. It puts your life on hold and you become nothing more but a shadow of yourself. Depression is a thief of happiness and makes you numb to it, and in some cases, you are spending your days waiting for a time to come where you have the courage to end it all. Not ending it so that others will feel sorry for you, but so that you will no longer worry, waste your life, and get in other people's way. Depression destroys relationships and drives others away from you as well as destroying your ability to function because of the insane tiredness and forgetfulness that comes with it and also the fact you have given up on life. You feel nothing more than a disappointment and an example of who not to be and just a joke of a person in general.
I did not realize that a lot of these things were symptoms of depression. It's good to know that it's not all just in my head and that when I am physical pain as well as emotional that there is a reason.
These symptoms are right on and imagine experiencing these for approximately 37 years. It is incredibly draining and guess I have actually done well because I'm still trying to keep going.
I'm 77 years old and have been living with depression for 77 years. When I was young, I would do whatever every one was doing. I was embarrassed, ashamed, lonely, tired, frightened of everything. Every few months I would become enraged and feared I would harm someone. I have a constant dialogue in my head spinning around the past, the present and the future mistakes. My inglorious failure at life.
Thank you for sharing, Annamay. You might feel like a failure at life, but something tells me you've made an incredible effort living with depression for so long. I imagine much of that would have been during times when it really wasn't understood, recognised or talked about, which must have made it even more difficult. Congratulations on getting through 77 years. I hope today is a better day. Sending love your way <3
Load More Replies...So glad that someone is telling the truth about chronic depression. The worst thing is that it feels like you’re faking illness even when you can’t do anything useful.
I think the biggest one for me - because it blew a friend away in higschool that I understood (she didn't know she had depression) is feeling bad for no reason. Like, "Hey, you okay?" "Yeah, I'm just kind of upset today." "Why?" *Shrugs* "Just one of those days where you feel awful for no reason, huh?" Cue my friend freaking out because someone understood.
Being angry and easily being set off into rages, suicidal and even homicidal ideation, the need to constantly distract yourself as your brain runs at 1000mph through all of the things in your life that didn't even bother you at the time, inability to sleep for a full day and a half followed by sleeping for 16 hours, inability to regulate sleep, inability to regulate diet - either over eating or under eating. Lack of care for health and wellbeing ie eating wrong, drinking too much, taking drugs, risky behaviour like crossing the street without looking, engaging with risky people, promiscuous behaviour, flat out not caring about yourself your life other people or taking pleasure from anything you used to enjoy doing. Blurting out personal details inappropriately to people you know or don't know. Seeing nothing in your future but the same thing. Realising that, suffering from chronic treatment resistant major depressive disorder means you WILL, in fact, feel like this forever..
Even with treatment resistant depression, there’s always something that can be tried, if you look hard enough: exercise, diet, painting, anything; it needs to be worked out with the person who’s suffering .
Load More Replies...A major U.S. hospital is doing trials of psylicibin (mushrooms) used in a very safe situation, with preparation & a guide & therapy, with very, very good results. One session of psylicibin is said to relieve depression for 6 mos. to a year. Others are investigating ketamine with good results, although not as good as psylicibin. Marijuana helps some, although I don't know which strains. Non-THC CBD oil helps some, but there is a huge variability in brands, and some do apparently nothing, despite the expense. Hold on. We value you.
I believe Ketamine is already approved for use in the U.S., although finding a physician might not be easy. I believe Cleveland Clinic prohibits all of their doctors from prescribing, which I believe should be illegal.
Load More Replies...I have been depressed my whole life mut it has been worse about 2 years. Usually it comes and goes but now it's quite nonstop😑 these symptoms feels so familiar
Its been a year now. I cried for 2 days straight because I wanted to study fine arts but my parents made me take medical instead. Now I just dont know what I am doing. I can literally spend a whole friking day on my phone , I skiped my date of periods 5-6 time . I can't remember something for a log term which is making me give up on the idea that I can do anything. I still think that all of this is my fault. I just have phone addiction but I am scared of being on my own in this journey. Being like this for over a month feels like now I can't even do arts. My parents are doctors and Indian so I am doomed. I dont know if I am insecure but I think my arms are thinner than my body. Making up senarios in my head is the only think that makes me happy. Even if I read this whole paragraph again I still won't believe that I have depression. For me I am just acting or just an adict who is searching for a reason for wasting her life . I am 16 and I j
Thanks for post, i am so depressed and cried. how many people don't understand and others just mock you. I have been a successful Blogger - First person in our family or relatives to earn in USD from india. it was good, then the OCD, Negative Thougts and depression. Sucked up/sucking my life. I live for my parents - i don't want to kill myself and make them sad for their life. i am the one for them. I work as a designer now. But while comparing previous one. I in bottom. and thank you god and parents prayer. I have ideas written in note to create/ ideas which i like to began a new company or business. Sometimes i feel myself in bad thoughts i don't write it and it gone from my brain. Respect and support. Depression person who are creative hurt more. The brain is sucked up. Please go forward. We can fight. HOPE is good.
it could be worse, so look up... or perhaps you didn't want to burden us by mentioning different types of severe complications such as schizophrenia (all manner of different types & flavors), catatonia, negative side effects due to efforts at self-treatment, religious psychosis, paranoia, psychotic outbursts (they only happen at the most embarrassing time possible), delusions of grandeur and other delusions, unstable work history causing unemployment and poverty, chronic social isolation, the list goes on and on... what a nightmare...
Really? In your attempt to sound 'smart' or poetic, you've posted a comment that could be very dangerous if someone dealing with those feelings reads it. From a person that does experience those thoughts nearly every day, I'd recommend thinking before you post this stuff. It's idiotic and irresponsible. Also, everyone can see when you upvote your own comments- vote manipulation is rather cringey.
Load More Replies...
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