How do people have the strength to go on?

I look at people everyday & often wonder how they have the will to just keep going even in the face of adversity. There’s no question that everyone is struggling with something & that depression is more common than we realize, but if that’s the truth, where do people find their strength to love, to laugh, to get out of bed, to do all of this??

Sometimes I just feel like crawling into a ball & not coming out until this thick fog of depression passes over. It always passes, but I SWEAR, it feels endless when I’m in the thick of it. I just keep feeling like I don’t have time to explore my feelings, no time to truly heal, because life must go on. I have school and bills & people looking up to me & I feel so weak because the way I’m feeling paralyzes me at times. So again, how do people gain the strength to keep going?

Thanks for reading.

I went through such severe despression that I couldn’t go any further....I’m surprised I’m still alive after what I went through...

But grab onto the speck....that microscopic dot of light and hold onto it....because one day it will get brighter....and brighter. I still have depression, but it is nowhere where it used to be....

I have had those thoughts you’re having

I realise that if I quit, I’ll let a lot of people down. My friends and family and pets.

Giving up doesn’t feel like a solution to me, because in turn I’ll just cause more people to be depressed.

I’m pretty hopeless and miserable but I keep going because I don’t see any other real options. I love my family and I’m gonna be there for them. They need me.

When feeling paralyzed, it can be so very difficult to even consider going on.
This is when I have to keep putting one foot in front of another and trying so hard. Sometimes, I need to allow myself to just rest, too. It's tough because I feel I am letting people down when I am sooo paralyzed.

I have to take it day-by-day, sometimes minute-by-minute in order to make it through.

I hope you will feel better soon.


WC

I can relate to this I’m sending hugs

I relate to all the above. I am about to give up. I don't know exactly what that means or what that would look like, but I can't even cry any more. I read these forums and only respond to those I just can't get past for whatever reason, then it is so easy to be misunderstood, up means down, down means behind you...I feel like I'm in quick sand and I don't dare move, don't dare care, don't dare try to save myself, and least of all don't dare try to help anyone else. I want the dark and the silence behind a locked door.

I can relate. I feel the same. Thanks for expressing it so nicely.

Yeah, I’m in the same boat as a lot of you guys. It’s getting to the point where I’m not even sure what the point is anymore.

If it weren’t for my brother and nephews (and my cat) I probably wouldn’t be here. I keep trying to tell myself that they need me but the truth is I can’t even help myself much anymore.

I guess we all just have to focus on one thing or person we love and hang onto that until the storm (hopefully) passes. It seems to be getting harder Nd harder to do though.

You're all stronger than you think you are.

it is starting to look like for me, a stay at the hospital.I am paralyzied now mentally too, thank you for putting it that way. I just think i cn't make it one more day but i know i have to. well dishes being washed, vaccumming , laundry, etc...being a homemaker is so unrewarding. I did just recently sign up to be a friendly visitor for the elderly for visits and phone calls, but i wish i could have more assigned to me as i only have 2 people so far. They keep me going too even if i don't feel like answering the phone, im ok after talking. i need a new drug!

Psych drugs, therapy, coffee, plus when I almost died 3 years ago my family (dad, sister, brother, husband, daughter and son) where so upset that I came to believe that I was needed. The only way to not go on (a successful attempt) would have devastated them. Attempting traumatized the people I love so I think loved ones are the main reason we go on and I think that if you are alone--you should consider getting a pet. Pets are just like loved ones who care for us and give us a reason to go on.

I am sorry you are struggling.

i often wonder if its ok for me to be depressed when there is so many other people who would give their right arms to have my problems,meaning their problems seem greater than mine. do i have a right to be depressed and how do i get out of it? There are so many things that are bad out there that i feel guilty being depressed, i guess i have to count my blessings although i really don't get much help because im still depressed.

Yeah, I’ve though about volunteering. I sometimes visit old folks homes with my aunt and I enjoy that sometimes, but the patients are often too far to even know what’s going on.

There’s a homeless shelter I’ve thought about volunteering at. I enjoy helping people.