Chances are, some of your friends or relatives are coping with depression. Sometimes the best start in helping the person suffering is to step into his shoes for just a moment. Understanding what does depression feel like, how undermining it is can show the guidelines for help. And if you are not gifted with such great empathy, the compilation of depression drawings that we have created might give you a glimpse of what this mental illness is.

The artists behind these gloomy drawings have first-hand experience dealing with mental illnesses, and their drawings illustrate it in a very relatable way. From monsters living in your head to feelings of complete loneliness, depression is way more debilitating than one might think.

Scroll down below for these depression artworks by various artists and see how they feel or imagine this mental illness.

Living with depression is hard, but it is treatable, so if you think that you might be suffering from it or spot the first depression symptoms with your relative or a friend, don't ignore it. Get help.

#2

Mind Devour

Mind Devour

The painting describes a person with mental problems such as schizophrenia, insanity, depression, or other mental health problems. His endless screaming makes his own mind eat him up.
I have periods in my life where I feel like this. I wanted to make an illustration of my thoughts and my pain within.

Sebmaestro Report

Eva Ross
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like the cover of Pink Floyd The Wall (the movie)

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#3

Depression

Depression

Ajgiel Report

Little letitia
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People always say my head is in the clouds. Little do they know those clouds are black and heavy with storms.

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#4

Colorful Depression

Colorful Depression

lolitpop Report

#6

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder

Shawn Coss Report

#7

Depression

Depression

EmilyClark Report

#8

Teen Depression

Teen Depression

carts Report

#9

Falling

Falling

A figure sketch from "Falling" a unique art project I worked on from 2010-2014 about my experience with depression.

claralieu Report

Lynn Monet Bevino
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can relate to this. This is a great representation of the feeling of falling, helpless, as the agony pulls you in and down. As you submit, because you're too weak from trying to be strong.

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#10

Broken Soul

Broken Soul

John Holcroft Report

Harvey Tydeman
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

at least he has family to help him put him back together

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#11

My Depression Looks Like This

My Depression Looks Like This

On my 27th birthday my depression was finally just too fucking much. After many years of silently treating the severe recurrent episodes of my major depressive disorder, I gave up. I was not well and I needed to take the time to deal with how bad it had truly gotten. So I basically "came out" as the big faker depression had been telling me I was... no more masks,

madNbrooklyn Report

Caitie Forsyth
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I, too, wear the masks. I just don't trust anyone enough to confide in them. They will just hurt me, like everyone/everything else. At times tho it almost seems more exhausting to hide then it would be to just express the overwhelming fear, pain and anger that is felt.

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#12

My Demons

My Demons

Zary Report

#14

Depressed

Depressed

moppaa Report

#15

Falling Into Depression

Falling Into Depression

ZarinaSitumorang Report

#17

Falling Sketch No. 55

Falling Sketch No. 55

This depression in art project is a visualization of personal experience with depression and anxiety. The condition brought on frequent episodes where I felt emotionally and physically out of control. Unable to “release” myself from these episodes, I waited for the physical limitations of my body to end them. Recounting the affected years, I realize how accustomed I became to depression’s influence; many emotions and feelings belonged to it and not my own personality. After an extended, untreated struggle, a diagnosis brought relief, and the process of unearthing myself from the disease began.

claralieu Report

Karl Stoll
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks just like depression combined with anxiety. I know this pose all too well.

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#18

Evanesce

Evanesce

Margarita Georgiadis Report

#19

Depression

Depression

Depression is like a cancer of the mind.

Krains Report

#20

Black Dog

Black Dog

Lenka Simeckova Report

Daria B
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a black dog on my shoulder again. Licking my neck and saying she's my friend. Solitude the one thing that I really miss. Guess my life is a compromise. ♬♪

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#21

Depression

Depression

Monsters don't live under your bed, they live inside your head.

Michelle114 Report

#22

Depression

Depression

Grimmshadow88 Report

Melina Pothier
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I relate strongly to this. After I've driven myself to exhaustion with my OCD and depression and finally pass out on my bed tired from trying to fight it.

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#24

Hopelessness

Hopelessness

Steven Herbers Report

GalaxyInAJar
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bleeding out as you put on mask after mask

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#25

Depression

Depression

This dark drawing was inspired by depression and the effect it has on people, its a subject that's very close to my heart and i feel very passionate about it. So I created this image almost to try and explain depression to someone who's never experienced it or can not understand the effects it has on people.

KateR31 Report

#26

Depression

Depression

Someone somewhere feels less alone when finding that they can relate to something. Mental illness can feel extremely isolating.

JenniferHealy Report

#27

Again Insomnia

Again Insomnia

Really troublesome. My mind can't settle. Sometimes it end up with... twisted dream.
I feel so depressed and sad every time I wake up, especially when everyone has gone.

N-Maulina Report

#28

Art During A Time Of Depression

Art During A Time Of Depression

herpaderps Report

#29

November

November

Marcin Jakubowski Report

#30

She's Not Sad. She Feels Empty

She's Not Sad. She Feels Empty

zvlyka Report

#31

Parasite

Parasite

Riftress Report

Belinda Matson
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apt: demon clawing through the mind while the subject is immobile

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#32

Depression

Depression

sabgeid Report

#33

Burden

Burden

Byakuya1619 Report

Katie Ru
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes it feels that it is the only escape....

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#34

The Other Bedroom

The Other Bedroom

AudreyBenjaminsen Report

Tara Hulko
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is amazing. You really capture the essence that is depression

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#37

Sickness

Sickness

I feel sad and cold. But happy, because I have friends. So I feel guilty that I'm sad.

Mayka94 Report

Daria B
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest. This one precisely describes how I felt through some phases on particularly sensitive days. Excessive guilt is so.... Terrible.

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#38

Depression

Depression

Swiniaki Report

#39

I Decided To Give Art Therapy A Go To Work Through Some Stuff - This Is My Interpretation Of Depression, Anxiety And Depersonalisation

I Decided To Give Art Therapy A Go To Work Through Some Stuff - This Is My Interpretation Of Depression, Anxiety And Depersonalisation

JegSnakkerLittNorsk Report

#41

Brain Fog

Brain Fog

Steven Herbers Report

Debbie Chappell
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can relate to most of these images. I have my depression mostly under control these days. When it comes now, it is like this, a brain cloud that I can feel the darkness gathering and engulfing me. An improvement from the animal clawing desperation of past days.

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#42

Morning Kiss From Your Depression

Morning Kiss From Your Depression

beiibis Report

Mary Alice Lynch
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing like waking up with that cold dread feeling.

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#43

Depression

Depression

ChaosCake Report

#44

Depression

Depression

Mazzoldi Report

#47

Depression Self-portrait

Depression Self-portrait

CountryRoads8 Report

Elecia Windmeyer
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You just want to make it stop....anything to make it stop.

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#48

Depression

Depression

xfoshizzlexx Report

Heather Cox
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Mommy, why do you listen to sad music most of the time"

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#50

Depressive

Depressive

Isisnofret Report

#51

Depression

Depression

MysteriousHylian Report

H.M. Jordan
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you're trying, you're reaching to get out, but it just keeps pulling you back into the pit.

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#53

Untitled

Untitled

I'm having a hard time reminding myself why I bother to keep going, I've suffered with depression most of my life, lost my job and my health went downhill, sitting here alone, after years of therapy and trying, I'm just feeling defeated.

captaingalactus Report

Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are so many pictures, and so many people commenting on them. I think more people suffer from mental illnesses/disorders than don't. We are the majority. Let's stick together and support each other.

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#54

Straight Jacket

Straight Jacket

zingzangzu Report

Elecia Windmeyer
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They all called me crazy....but they didn't know the constraints and horrors of my own mind.

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#55

Depression

Depression

"Depression" - painting by my grandmother

MattOnADinosaur Report

#56

I Drew A Picture Of Depression

I Drew A Picture Of Depression

I've always imagined my depression as a sort of creature that hangs around, and when it gets bad it's trying to scoop me up. So I drew it.

penistown Report

Tiina Lehtineva
Community Member
3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is kind of like mine too. Mine had a name, Charlie.

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#58

Depression Distorts Reality

Depression Distorts Reality

PassionIsLife Report

#59

Stress, Anxiety, Depression

Stress, Anxiety, Depression

Johnny Golden Report