9Kviews
I Find It Hard To Explain What It’s Like To Live With Depression, So I Draw It
9Kviews
I have a high functioning type of severe depression, meaning that I still keep up with the tasks expected from me to appear outwardly normal. It's an endless effort to put on the facade, but I've become very good at it.
I still believe telling others puts a burden on them, though all my friends and psychiatrists have said the contrary. When people ask me "how do you feel?" and actually want a genuine answer, I struggle to find the words. And thus, the drawings became a communication tool to show the turmoil below the surface.
More info: pinterest.co.uk
This post may include affiliate links.
Shadows Of My Mind Closing In
per me è sempre stata un grande buco nero che mi stava dietro. a volte più vicino, a volte più lontano, per un periodo credevo anche di averlo seminato, ma non si può cancellare una parte della propria vita e negli ultimi anni è di nuovo qui, più vicino che mai. for me it was always a big black hole that was behind me. sometimes closer, sometimes farther away, for a time I also thought I had sown it, but you can not erase a part of your life and in the last few years it's here again, closer than ever.
Stay Away In Case I Hurt You..
Good Things Are There... I Can't Feel Any Of Them
sai che in fondo sei una donna fortunata, che hai amici, una relazione, una casa, un lavoro, tanti hobby, animali che ti amano, insomma tutto quello che volevi, ma è come se fosse tutto dall'altra parte di un vetro, irraggiungibile, ed inutile. You know that after all you are a lucky woman, you have friends, a relationship, a home, a job, lots of hobbies, animals that love you, in short, everything you wanted, but it's like everything else on the other side of a glass, unattainable, and useless.
So Empty
amazing how well she pictures these feelings...and so sad...people who do not identify don't want to see these....
So Far From Everyone
I Have The Key To The Quick Exit... Do I Use It?
Force A Smile
I too was a clown to the world. But alone at home I cried inside and out. :(
Tug 'O' War... Pulls From Either Side Hurt Just As Much
Creeping Up
the style of this drawing is depression it self...is this person OK? there is help available I am 71 and have dealt with this all my life there is hope...never give up on yourself...
Trapped By My Own Shadow
Weight Of The Shadow
Feeble Fighting
These are outstanding. I can totally relate as a fellow high functioning major depressive. Thank you, CHuZ.
Heart Has Burst Away
Every single one is exactly how i felt, I'm much better but the darkness is still around me, threatening to come back. Thank you this will help make others understand what it's like.
Me too. I've experienced many episodes and during each I come up with new comparisons. This one doesn't feel liek having stones in my pockets but rather being strangled. I am barely breathing what others are and barely getting enough life-power from it.
Powerful and pretty accurate, sadly.
My depression is not being able to help depressed people. I have such empathy for the very few people I know suffering from depression but yet I cannot fathom how to help.
Just be there. Tell then everything is going to be ok. Don't overdo it. Just be human and listen to the cry-outs. Don't dive in. Just listen....
Just being there for them, without any judgement, is a great help. If you don't know what to say - don't say anything and don't give up on them. You can ask if they need anything, basic things like groceries or smth. Asking for help in depresion is a whole new lever of torment. Sometimes it's impossible to do anything, like errands etc., really, so it would be a great way of helping. Especially when it's a single person, living alone.
Take me out for a cuppa, lunch maybe. Just ring me up for a chat, like maybe i am a person worth chatting with. Little things.
Just ask them what you can do to help&let them talk, thats a big help right there
Thank you. I can finally tell people how I truly feel
I wish people who never experienced deppresion would at least try understand it. I' ve never in my real life met anyone compassionate or helpful about it, I guess because noone knows what to do or say...? Yet callousness (not only in the depression matter) shocks me and makes me lose faith in humanity. Things I've heard about this horrible conditions, my condition... No wonder there are so many suicides. People who I met online helped me fight my darkness, because they went through the same stuff and managed to tame it... Yet the ones, tho are theoretically "the close ones" are not even aware I fought this battle... Yes, a battle, because it's a war that never ends.
So sad and real. You call it a shadow - I call it my prison. No matter what I do - I always wind up in the same cell of undermining powerlesness. Your drawings makes me sad, because I can relate... They are good
Help me understand. if a person was very very depressed, and something exciting happened. like winning the lottery, or getting whisked away to some place far and exciting. or a sudden Fire in your apartment. does the mood change? like can a sudden rush a of adrenaline cure it?
Depression levels can fluctuate over periods of time so if an event caught me when I was in a black pit then, no, I wouldn't give a stuff about winning the lottery and I really would not care to be whisked away somewhere. The fire - I have pets so I would do what is necessary to save them. They save me every day. A lot of the time can be spent feeling nothing and people can batter away at it but nothing gets in. The better days, yes, it would make a difference and give a lift for a little while. Does that help? It's good that you want to try and understand.
The person would feel excitement and adrenaline; just like an ordinary person. The rush would fade after a while, but they might feel a little better, depending on the situation. Depression isn't really curable. There is medication and therapies available to help people with depression, but doesn't remove the depression permanentely. (Sorry if I wasn't able to help. I'm not a phycologist or doctor of any kind, but I have some basic knowledge of depression, as someone who comes from a family of people with depression and being depressed myself) (Sorry for this long answer and thanks if you read all of this ^^)
You might not be a doctor but your answer was completely spot on.
Ok, sorry if this is disturbing, but it's the only metaphor that works. Having depression, at least for me, is like juggling knives. Every time you mess up, a knife falls and goes into your hand, making it harder to juggle. You wish you could stop hurting yourself with just that knife, but that first one still in your hand makes it harder to juggle the others. So another slips. And another. Until there's nothing left of you to keep juggling anymore.
How do I delete a comment? it's showing my real name and I don't want that.
Can't delete a comment on here; or edit.
Keep expressing yourself through art. Tis the artidote!
Damian Dookhoo easy
The black dog is a destructive force, so many people have exited the building due to depression&its so very sad
Every day is spent self medicating.
Depression can happen I believe when bad things happen and very right so. But living with depression, I have my own thoughts of. One of the things, is that depressed people always THINK KF THEMSELVES AND HOW BAD THEIR LIFE IS. Try to think of others and their lives and their problems. Just remember, it can always be worse. Be thankful for living, life, food, friends, family, etc..... When u think about Ur blessings, there's no room for depression.
So well described. I feel empty, and fear.
I went through a real bad depression i was hospitalized for 8 mths it was that bad! Besides being quiet people would ask why i was there because on the outside i seemed perfectly normal but on the inside i was dying! All i wanted to do was stay in my room i was off work on sick leave for a year. I just had no interest in anything. People would say hah!" it's all in your head! I took up drawing also and building model cars that was very intricate ! It helped a lot. That was 7 years ago today i'm depression free. Now though i'm diagnosed with major anxiety disorder which is agonizing , you feel like your having an heart attack literally, you can't swallow, ears get plugged, shaking , burning sensation in your chest , the list goes on. I've had it for 5-6 years and can't beat it without medication! I hate pills but i take it three times a day before it comes on so i can live a somewhat normal life but if i run out the symptoms are way worse from withdrawal too! Any suggestion's!
These are so simple but so powerful. Beautiful in their own way. I hope that you're okay, and dealing with your shadow xxx
Just in case you or someone you know may need these. https://www.metanoia.org/suicide/ this site was the MOST helpful thing i ever found. It has a different view of depression that may interest you. even if you do not have it now. Australian Lifeline phone: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ It is ok to ring them and just ask questions; you do NOT have to give your name. You can just ask for information. PLEASE hold on, and keep asking people for help...it might take a different person , OR you might need a different dose of medication. It is common to need two years to get medicine stabilised.
PLEASE hold on, and keep asking people for help...it might take a different person , OR you might need a different dose of medication. It is common to need two years to get medicine stabilised.
Australian Lifeline phone: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ It is ok to ring them and just ask questions; you do NOT have to give your name. You can just ask for information.
erk : sorry wall of text. https://www.metanoia.org/suicide
Can relate to all of these, unfortunately..
Every single one is exactly how i felt, I'm much better but the darkness is still around me, threatening to come back. Thank you this will help make others understand what it's like.
Me too. I've experienced many episodes and during each I come up with new comparisons. This one doesn't feel liek having stones in my pockets but rather being strangled. I am barely breathing what others are and barely getting enough life-power from it.
Powerful and pretty accurate, sadly.
My depression is not being able to help depressed people. I have such empathy for the very few people I know suffering from depression but yet I cannot fathom how to help.
Just be there. Tell then everything is going to be ok. Don't overdo it. Just be human and listen to the cry-outs. Don't dive in. Just listen....
Just being there for them, without any judgement, is a great help. If you don't know what to say - don't say anything and don't give up on them. You can ask if they need anything, basic things like groceries or smth. Asking for help in depresion is a whole new lever of torment. Sometimes it's impossible to do anything, like errands etc., really, so it would be a great way of helping. Especially when it's a single person, living alone.
Take me out for a cuppa, lunch maybe. Just ring me up for a chat, like maybe i am a person worth chatting with. Little things.
Just ask them what you can do to help&let them talk, thats a big help right there
Thank you. I can finally tell people how I truly feel
I wish people who never experienced deppresion would at least try understand it. I' ve never in my real life met anyone compassionate or helpful about it, I guess because noone knows what to do or say...? Yet callousness (not only in the depression matter) shocks me and makes me lose faith in humanity. Things I've heard about this horrible conditions, my condition... No wonder there are so many suicides. People who I met online helped me fight my darkness, because they went through the same stuff and managed to tame it... Yet the ones, tho are theoretically "the close ones" are not even aware I fought this battle... Yes, a battle, because it's a war that never ends.
So sad and real. You call it a shadow - I call it my prison. No matter what I do - I always wind up in the same cell of undermining powerlesness. Your drawings makes me sad, because I can relate... They are good
Help me understand. if a person was very very depressed, and something exciting happened. like winning the lottery, or getting whisked away to some place far and exciting. or a sudden Fire in your apartment. does the mood change? like can a sudden rush a of adrenaline cure it?
Depression levels can fluctuate over periods of time so if an event caught me when I was in a black pit then, no, I wouldn't give a stuff about winning the lottery and I really would not care to be whisked away somewhere. The fire - I have pets so I would do what is necessary to save them. They save me every day. A lot of the time can be spent feeling nothing and people can batter away at it but nothing gets in. The better days, yes, it would make a difference and give a lift for a little while. Does that help? It's good that you want to try and understand.
The person would feel excitement and adrenaline; just like an ordinary person. The rush would fade after a while, but they might feel a little better, depending on the situation. Depression isn't really curable. There is medication and therapies available to help people with depression, but doesn't remove the depression permanentely. (Sorry if I wasn't able to help. I'm not a phycologist or doctor of any kind, but I have some basic knowledge of depression, as someone who comes from a family of people with depression and being depressed myself) (Sorry for this long answer and thanks if you read all of this ^^)
You might not be a doctor but your answer was completely spot on.
Ok, sorry if this is disturbing, but it's the only metaphor that works. Having depression, at least for me, is like juggling knives. Every time you mess up, a knife falls and goes into your hand, making it harder to juggle. You wish you could stop hurting yourself with just that knife, but that first one still in your hand makes it harder to juggle the others. So another slips. And another. Until there's nothing left of you to keep juggling anymore.
How do I delete a comment? it's showing my real name and I don't want that.
Can't delete a comment on here; or edit.
Keep expressing yourself through art. Tis the artidote!
Damian Dookhoo easy
The black dog is a destructive force, so many people have exited the building due to depression&its so very sad
Every day is spent self medicating.
Depression can happen I believe when bad things happen and very right so. But living with depression, I have my own thoughts of. One of the things, is that depressed people always THINK KF THEMSELVES AND HOW BAD THEIR LIFE IS. Try to think of others and their lives and their problems. Just remember, it can always be worse. Be thankful for living, life, food, friends, family, etc..... When u think about Ur blessings, there's no room for depression.
So well described. I feel empty, and fear.
I went through a real bad depression i was hospitalized for 8 mths it was that bad! Besides being quiet people would ask why i was there because on the outside i seemed perfectly normal but on the inside i was dying! All i wanted to do was stay in my room i was off work on sick leave for a year. I just had no interest in anything. People would say hah!" it's all in your head! I took up drawing also and building model cars that was very intricate ! It helped a lot. That was 7 years ago today i'm depression free. Now though i'm diagnosed with major anxiety disorder which is agonizing , you feel like your having an heart attack literally, you can't swallow, ears get plugged, shaking , burning sensation in your chest , the list goes on. I've had it for 5-6 years and can't beat it without medication! I hate pills but i take it three times a day before it comes on so i can live a somewhat normal life but if i run out the symptoms are way worse from withdrawal too! Any suggestion's!
These are so simple but so powerful. Beautiful in their own way. I hope that you're okay, and dealing with your shadow xxx
Just in case you or someone you know may need these. https://www.metanoia.org/suicide/ this site was the MOST helpful thing i ever found. It has a different view of depression that may interest you. even if you do not have it now. Australian Lifeline phone: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ It is ok to ring them and just ask questions; you do NOT have to give your name. You can just ask for information. PLEASE hold on, and keep asking people for help...it might take a different person , OR you might need a different dose of medication. It is common to need two years to get medicine stabilised.
PLEASE hold on, and keep asking people for help...it might take a different person , OR you might need a different dose of medication. It is common to need two years to get medicine stabilised.
Australian Lifeline phone: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ It is ok to ring them and just ask questions; you do NOT have to give your name. You can just ask for information.
erk : sorry wall of text. https://www.metanoia.org/suicide
Can relate to all of these, unfortunately..