While there are many people who struggle to understand it, being clinically depressed is much different than being upset or having any sort of emotional response to challenges faced in life. Depression can vary in severity and can put a strain on every aspect of a person's life. This mental disorder makes it harder for a person to perform important tasks at work or school, navigate personal relationships and enjoy activities they take interest in, furthermore, depression symptoms are known to cause a great deal of suffering.
Sadly, depression is far from rare. In fact, it's of the most common mental disorders. According to the World Health Organization, as many as 300 million people of all ages suffer from this mental illness, making it the leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite the fact that there are a variety of effective treatments in fighting depression, due to reasons such as social stigma, common misconceptions about the mental health disorder, financial issues, failing to get the correct diagnosis, and many more, a lot of people don't get treated and continue living with depression.
If you are one of those people who are suffering from this disorder, the good news is that you're not going through this alone. Recently, #HowIFightDepression started trending on Twitter with hundreds of people eager to share what helps them cope with this disorder in hopes that their tips will help others. Scroll down below for some of the best advice people have shared.
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When I'm feeling really down, I make a To Do list. It literally starts with "Get out of bed. Eat breakfast. Watch TV." And then I add small, achievable tasks for the day.
That's what depression is, it's lies, all lies that come from your own head. It builds a false reality around you and makes you feel helpless, numb, and lost in the darkness. If you can replace depression with reality, with hope, literally change the way your brain thinks, even subconsciously, it's possible to improve. That's how I did it. After ten years, I don't have depression anymore.
This seems to be such a difficult concept for people to swallow. No matter how many times I tell people (anyone. Friends, Family, clients, etc.)... over and over... they always, somewhere, somehow ask... "So is it done yet? You fix it yet?" - No... it's not DONE. It's never "done".
I sadly lost my beloved dog/best friend 5 years ago and she helped me so much. She could tell when I was down and would comfort me. Some people may not understand this but her loss effected me more than any other loss including family, pregnancy loss etc. There will always be a special place in my heart for her, she was the best dog ever.
Belly-kissing Boy! I can see how His Gorgeousness might be the moment of inspiration you need. The late, great Petrushka got me through some very bleak days just by sleeping on the pillow next to mine.
Fighting depression isn't a battle, it's a war. Some battles you win, some you lose. What matters is staying in the fight.
This. I don't "self medicate" with drugs but with food. It is why I am so heavy-set. My depression has been a part of me my entire life, and sometimes I get so tired of fighting. I get tired of struggling and the voice in my head, that tells me I'm not worth it anyway, gets so strong. It is posts like this and music that help me.
What if you have no one and can't afford therapy or medication?
They’re really beautiful. I especially like the one in the bottom right corner. I would happily buy that one in the bottom right corner.
I have permanent psychological damage from my parents reading my diary. Sometimes on my bad days I would write suicide notes in my diary, and they read those, and flipped out. I haven't been able to write anything down for years now, because I'm scared of someone reading how I feel.
I resisted medication due to previous adverse reactions to a specific antidepressant. Until I was pregnant and suffering with panic attacks. Thankfully I have a great dr that understood my concerns, started me on the lowest dose and monitors me every 2 months. I am now on a higher dose but the antidepressants I am give me no adverse reactions. Having a good GP is vital, I have experienced good and bad GPs with mental health.
But what if people don't love you enough to give you a full ladder? Instead they give you a ladder that's too short? Either you can't reach the ladder, or the ladder doesn't go all the way out? Or if they just remove the ladder altogether? Am I going to live in this dark pit alone, forever?
Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I needed this so much. I am going through a major state of depression and I would never ever wish it on anyone it also helps to know I'm not alone. Thank you also for ideas and toold.
I'm going to leave this link to international suicide help lines, remember that it's always okay to ask for help https://ibpf.org/resource/list-international-suicide-hotlines
This short article was like a breath of fresh air in the sewer that is my fucking mind. I needed this, because in the war that is depression, you are always fighting alone and the enemy is a monster who is massive and terrifying and can kill you with a thought. Except, of course, the irony is you are that monster. But to those who have to fight their own minds everyday, to those who have to deal with what I deal with every single fucking day. I say, hold on. One day. One more. Breathing. Breathe. I'm not out of my dark place yet, but I hope to God and to any other being that will listen, to help those who suffer from their monsters. This post helped me understand that I am not alone, and neither are you. Let us fight the monsters together.
Amen
I needed this so much. I am going through a major state of depression and I would never ever wish it on anyone it also helps to know I'm not alone. Thank you also for ideas and toold.
I'm going to leave this link to international suicide help lines, remember that it's always okay to ask for help https://ibpf.org/resource/list-international-suicide-hotlines
This short article was like a breath of fresh air in the sewer that is my fucking mind. I needed this, because in the war that is depression, you are always fighting alone and the enemy is a monster who is massive and terrifying and can kill you with a thought. Except, of course, the irony is you are that monster. But to those who have to fight their own minds everyday, to those who have to deal with what I deal with every single fucking day. I say, hold on. One day. One more. Breathing. Breathe. I'm not out of my dark place yet, but I hope to God and to any other being that will listen, to help those who suffer from their monsters. This post helped me understand that I am not alone, and neither are you. Let us fight the monsters together.
Amen