Depression is....

Ok, Depression to me is like a big "BAD TEDDY BEAR" and I do have one.

I can either decide to "GIVE IN AND HANG ONTO AND HUG THAT BEAR"

Or, even though I know it is there, slowly, one day at a time try to "STUFF A NEW POSITIVE SUPPORTIVE BEAR OF HOPE".

I can either choose to continue to hug the "SAD BEAR" that never makes me feel better and even makes me more tired and angry and frustrated. "OR" I can keep slowly stuffing a "BETTER BEAR THAT WILL SOMEDAY BE A MUCH BETTER BEAR TO HUG" and I know it is a slow process and it can be hard to find the stuffing, but if I keep trying a little at a time, one day at time, it will eventually be a much "BETTER BEAR THAT I CAN HUG THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD".

Open Eyes

Depression is where happy becomes ready to cry, and okay is unimaginable. So we say "I am okay" but know one knows what it really means.

Depression is a boulder chained around my neck. It hurts and I can't get away from it. I hope that no one notices but at times it's way too obvious. It's a constant struggle to move even a little bit.

Depression is when empathy no longer exists because there are no words to let anyone understand. To everyone it is different and painful beyond words. .

Depression is a place I climb into, and feel the 'bitter-sweet' pain of the agony and struggle going on inside...

Depression is my dirty little secret behind the mask I put on every day for the world to see.
Depression clouds my mind, dulls my senses, delays my words, steals my joy, weighs me down, sucker punches me, ties my hands and feet and tongue, makes me hurt all over, and leaves me on the couch alone to watch time.

depression is... feeling like there is nothing left to do to feel better

My entire downfall... I used to be a writer and a I can't even find the words to describe it. I hurt so bad. I cry all day and can't sleep at night....which only makes me cry more the next day. I HATE this!!!

Depression is trying to pull myself up out of a hole using all my strength only to have wind coming out of someone's mouth (and their words) blow me back down.

depression is...being in a room full of friends/acquaintances and feeling so, so alone. Thinking of SI and other bad thoughts

Depression is....
not knowing what is wrong but feelings awful. there has to be something wrong because you feel so awful, and if there is nothing wrong then no one cares or see's.

Depression is looking back at the person I once was and being in awe I ever functioned that highly. Depression is feeling trapped and unable to think of a way out because my brain feels slow and my thoughts feel muddled. Depression is not being able to tell other people where you hurt.

just feeling sad not even knowing why im so sad. No hope and not seeing hope in the future.

Depression is....spending an entire day asking who am i? what is wrong with me? why can't I feel anything?

Depression is not being able to plan a future.

Depression is feeling like you are in a big black hole, with no light at the end of the tunnel. It is like being in quicksand, striving to get out, but making no progress...just sinking further and further.

Depression is the wanting and longing to be myself again.

Depression is not knowing who i am anymore

Depression is a force that cripples you. It takes over and consumes you.

Depression is...

• White noise in my head.
• It's what makes me want to sleep during the day, and stay awake during the night.
• It's what makes me argumentative and unable to be civil.
• Feel hatred towards myself.

Depression is when my friends no longer know who I am, and I can't tell them because I dont know.

Depression is looking in the miorr and not seeing yourself, but hating what you see, because you believe it to be you.

depression is wondering why half the stuff comes our of your mouth does

I read an article in our Catholic Diocesan paper a few weeks ago regarding depression/suicide and the problems it causes all Christians/non-Christians alike.

The scene was at a funeral service for a young man who had taken his life. His older brother was delivering an eulogy, comparing depression to cancer. In a "nutshell", he said the following:

Depression is a lot like cancer.
Some of it is curable.
Some of it is treatable.
While some of it is terminal.
My brother's was terminal.

I do not know a more profound definition of depression than this. It says it all. Suffering from rapid cycling bipolar depression myself, I know where my "cancer" is at the present moment. It will never become terminal in my hands, but with the recent cutbacks in health care, I no longer receive some services that keep me in "recovery". Those costs, I'm told, are too expensive for the government. I do not think anyone can ever put a "price" on a life, but in today's world that is not the case. Euthanasia has a much broader definition than what is now our understanding. Witholding services can be just as devasting as witholding food and water. Our nation is in trouble

I challenge all of you to advocate for yourselves ... your life may depend upon it. Mine will!

Sorry! I did not read this post first before I posted my views. To say what depression is in two sentences is impossible for me. Depression is the sum and substance of who I am.

Depression is believing life is hopeless all around. Taking a shower is now the burden of the day.