This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
Depression can be a lonely and isolating experience, but knowing that you're not alone can be a powerful source of comfort.
For many people, depression feels like a heavy weight that's hard to shake. It can make everyday tasks feel overwhelming, and even simple pleasures can seem dull and uninteresting.
"Nothing's exciting or enjoyable." ¶
Gina M., a 36-year-old from North Carolina, describes her depression as feeling like a constant struggle to get out of bed. "You have to fake a smile and act like you're okay when really you're not," she says. "Pretending to be happy made me feel like a phony, and it sucked up every ounce of energy I felt like I already didn't have."
"I felt like a rock." ¶
Jordanna S., a 35-year-old from New York, likens her depression to feeling like a stone-cold rock. "What can seem like laziness to others is really just depression stopping you from doing what you would like or can see yourself doing," she says. "At times, it feels like you just cannot."
"My senses are completely dulled." ¶
Ellie M., a 35-year-old from Tennessee, describes her depression as feeling like a cold, heavy layer that dulls her senses and separates her from the rest of the world. "Depression has a numbing effect," she says. "When you walk through life shrouded in it, upsetting things aren't as impactful."
"It comes on like a wave." ¶
MaryEllen R., a 27-year-old from Ohio, describes her depression as feeling like a wave that crashes down on her. "It feels like the sadness keeps getting harder to shake off," she says. "Once the catastrophic wave finally crashes, I get knocked off my feet, and it's almost impossible to get back up."
"I felt like a worthless shell of myself." ¶
Kelley B., a 36-year-old from Georgia, describes her depression as feeling like a constant sense of worthlessness. "When you feel worthless, it doesn't matter what other people say or think," she says. "My contributions to the household felt totally meaningless, like I was a shell just completing tasks to survive."
