[Samanthagreene]

I'm not sure if this is a common thing, but I was wondering if anyone else did this.
Often, I'll be rather depressed and then something good will happen, like I'll go meet up with a friend and have fun or get a compliment from someone I respect. For a brief amount of time, I'll actually feel happy and then I'll feel like there's a huge weight in my chest again, even if I'm still in a situation that ought to make me happy. Then I'll want to curl into a ball in my room and just sit there.
It is strange to be able to feel happy even though I'm depressed? Does this indicate atypical depression? Or is this just a really common thing that everyone deals with?
Thanks,
-Sam

[gayleggg]

I've had this happen. Not sure why it does. I just enjoy it while it lasts.
Gayle

[allimsaying]

Im not sure how visual you are. I use visuals to depict emotions when using words would be too complicated. Life is like a frisbee. You are young and inexperienced and situations might overwhelm you so that your life is like the way a frisbee flies when a young child first throws it. It flips and flops and lands a few feet away upside down and not making much distance. The little child picks up his frisbee again again and makes a little improvement with each toss. After awhile he's got it flying a further distance, but, hasnt learned everything he needs to know and when he throws the frisbee, its upside down. Emotions for the depressed can be like that upside down frisbee, wobbling in the air, landing short of the goal, and where it should be happy more than sad, its sad and the world is upside down. Keep trying, in time, those feelings are inverting so that the frisbee is right side up, the flight path smoothes out, aim and distance becomes more accurate. Thats what your post made me think about, how feelings are upside down when depressed, wobbling from happy to sad and back again. If we can learn from our past we can eventually tip our emotions upside right and spend more time in joy than sadness, as its meant to be.

[PotentPotables]

In my experience, you can have periods of happiness even when dealing with depression. It's just that the issue lies in the fact that you're still depressed most of the time.

I find it interesting that you go through times where you'll return to being depressed even while remaining in a pleasant situation. Maybe that'd be something to explore. Try reflecting on what could trigger you to return to being depressed.

Best of luck!

I've had moments of happiness & contentment while deeply depressed.

It let's me know that it's not always gonna be so dark.

[winter4me]

Me too...makes a big, positive, difference.

[ks33182]

I know what you mean, I've had a lot of positive changes happen in my life, got a new job, a new cat...but my loneliness and self esteem issues consume me. I'm working on it through therapy, but I have said to her, I feel bad for feeling bad when i got so much going for me. I'm happy about the new opportunities, but I'm still not happy about other things, and so I get what you are feeling, happiness and then sadness.