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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.

 

#1

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Foxxy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No one knows how bad mine is coz I hide it very well, it is easier to hide it than talk about it.

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#2

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Blue Cicada
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#3

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Laura Habermehl
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#4

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D. Pitbull
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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".

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#5

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Foxxy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#7

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Kaisu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn't mean you're not tough even if you can't get anything done one day, it just means you're tough because you managed to make it through the day <3

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#8

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#9

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Link
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of something I posted on my page a long time ago. It was phrased like, "Bond, James Bond. And you are?" "Berry, Strawberry."

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#11

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Randy Dhuyvetter
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fighting depression isn't a battle, it's a war. Some battles you win, some you lose. What matters is staying in the fight.

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#12

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Reyna Blake
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#15

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Kaisu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dog hugs always make me feel better, even if I'm having a really bad mental day ❤️

#16

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Tammy Ralph
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lily is beautiful, I love her smile, we are so lucky that dogs exist.

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#17

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#18

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#20

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Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somewhere I read : if you are having a bad day , remember it is just a bad day ( or week) Not a bad life.

#22

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I'm dark
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, her hat is me somedays... I say I'm fine and just put on my best fake smile...

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#23

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Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am way grown up, but I still respond really well to gold stars. I give them to myself, sometimes just for staying alive for one more day. ... sometimes for going for a walk.

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#24

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Sarah Storm
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#25

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Foxxy
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#28

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#29

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#30

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Kip The Otter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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?

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#31

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#33

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Harley Kroll
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you bc most of the time ppl just say be happy or snap out of it. It's not that easy.

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#34

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Kaisu
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's true, the less of a taboo mental illness is, the easier it is for people to open up about it

#35

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a good one, but sometimes hard to remember at the crucial juncture.

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#36

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#38

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Magpie
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously write those medals down, or draw them. We do deserve praise for overcoming the beast.

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#39

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#40

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#41

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Turnip and a Frog
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this one the most. Especially point 1. When the thoughts are swarming on me, I pick 1. Try to embrace. Domesticate until it feels almost good. Pick another one... I imagine it to be like an endless cabinet with shelves. It’s endless, so it’s scary, but sometimes those things on the shelves are already familiar to me, so I don’t have to try so hard to tame them. And sometimes the cabinet is just a normal-sized furniture in the room on which I put flowers :-) Whatever works.

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#42

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SadieSummers
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's okay if you can't get out of bed sometimes. it's okay if you don't feel like getting dressed or taking a shower. some days are tougher than others, it doesn't mean you're weak. you're strong for still going against something as tough as depression, and you are doing amazing.

#43

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#44

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#45

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#46

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#47

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#48

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#49

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#50

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#51

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#52

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#53

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#54

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#55

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