It seems that those of us who live with depression often feel the need to keep how we are feeling to ourselves as we worry that we will ‘burden’ our loved ones if they know how we truly feel. By keeping our feeling to ourselves we often get caught in a place where our emotions continue to build until we get to the point where we just don’t have the energy to care anymore. Feeling like you don’t care (about anything) is such a scary feeling and a very dark place to be in, and man, it’s hard to bounce back from that!
Truths People Living with Depression Will Understand
If you are living with depression, I think these statements will sound very familiar to you:
1) There is nothing worse than feeling depressed when by all accounts things in your life are going well and you ‘should’ be happy.
2) You start thinking more and more negatively and while you often know what you are doing, you just can’t stop.
3) You know what it’s like to sleep for a full 8 (or more) hours and yet still feel like you could sleep for days.
4) There are days when all the money, chocolate, or love in the world couldn’t make you get out of bed.
5) You know what it feels like to walk around with a smile on your face while on the inside you are barely holding it together.
6) There is nothing more isolating than opening up to someone about how you are feeling and hearing things like “it is just a phase”, “you are just having a bad day” and the best of them all… “have you tried exercising”.
7) You know what it’s like to feel completely hollow and numb even when doing the things you love most.
My intention in sharing these truths is not to make you feel worse, rather to show you that you are not going through this alone. There are many of us who are/have been feeling as you are now and when you are depressed it is so important to know you aren’t alone and that there really are people who understand how you are feeling!
My friend Lauren Roerick is a health coach and she has also felt like this in her early twenties. This led Lauren to explore natural treatments including yoga, meditation, nutrition, and cognitive behavioural therapy. After completing her thesis study on integrative depression treatment, she felt that this information wasn’t easily accessible in a neat complete package. After realizing this, Lauren created a powerful video course to teach you what she’s learned and to help you make lasting changes in your own life.
Lauren is the creator of The Undepression Project, a website that helps to share information on depression treatment and fight the stigma of mental illness, and a certified holistic health coach specializing in depression recovery. She combines her expertise in nutrition, yoga, and depression recovery to provide her clients with a multifaceted approach to combatting depression.
Until March 10th she’s offering a discount to anyone who reads/follows Painted Teacup. All you need to do is check out the link below and enter the code CHANTAL50 at the checkout to get $50 off this incredible program.
Here’s Lauren’s program, Overcome Depression: 4 Weeks to Feel Like Yourself Again
If you are living with depression please remember that you are not alone (even if you feel like you are)! I encourage you to seek out supports from loved ones, speak to your doctor or counsellor, or check out Lauren’s program!
I’ve never suffered from depression, but knowing these truths will help me deal with people that are living with depression. Thanks for bringing more awareness to this subject.
I’ve suffered from depression before. It’s not a good time at all. Great tips and letting people know the’re not alone.
I know, and have known, several people that suffer from depression, and this post has given me an insight into how they may feel. The people I have known haven’t really wanted to, or been able to, talk about it, so this is really helpful. Thank you.
This is a great way to spread awareness and support people who are suffering. Lauren’s video course sounds interesting.
Depression is a real illness that affects so many of us. It’s also important to build a support network of family & friends that will help you through the rough times. Thanks for bringing more exposure to this serious issue.
I’ve never suffered from depression but have loved ones who have. This gives great insight into the things that on the outside, we have a hard time understanding.
I haven’t been clinically depressed. I think it’s a normal part of life that we all need to overcome.
Thanks so much for sharing, I have suffered from depression and have family that does also.
Depression runs in my family, and not everyone understands how hard it can be. Thank you for bringing awareness to this difficult disease.
I think I’ve had a few run ins with depression. I also have anxiety so I try to keep my feelings in check. Some days are better than others. Great post, great information.
These couldn’t be more true. #1 is the hardest for me, as everything in my life is great but I just can’t get out of this “rut”.
I deal with depression due to my chronic pain. It kinda goes hand in hand. I just like knowing that I’m not alone. I started blogging to help take the focus off myself.
What a great thing to do for people. I hope that if they reach out that it will help them.
I can’t even imagine what life is like every day for people who suffer from depression. I get down from time to time but it can’t even compare to being depressed!
Thanks for sharing this, so good to know more about it!
I have never experienced depression before, but these are good to know. My husband does get into a funk every few months or so, so these are good to know to help him.
Depression is a real illness that affects many of us. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Really insightful into the world of someone who faces depression. Thank you for sharing these thoughts!
Cathy
This hits home for Babushka. The phrases you say are real, and unfortunately BB’s said most of them to her daughter who suffers from depression. Gracias for writing this post, will be sharing it with the family. BB2U
Ahh, the “have you tried exercising” hit home for me! I understand it can ‘help’ but hello people, I’ve been exercising every day for the last 10 years so I am thinking it’s not quite the answer for me lol. Loved the article! I am looking for support wherever I can find it 🙂
Depression is something like a voice is keeping telling me I should die. And I am keeping replied I AM SORRY.
I am so sorry you are going through this! We need you in this world! I hope today is a better day!
I’ve been depressed for months now. This is not a phase or something you “snap out of”. Your listing is like it was written for me. I wish there was a way to press a button and make it stop.
While I am glad you can relate to the post, I am so sorry that you are able to relate to it! I know how hard and frustrating it can be to manage depression! I hope today is a good day for you!