Social media has an amazing power to connect people from all over the world. And often, with an open platform to share our experiences. comes understanding, compassion and acceptance.
Nowhere was this made more apparent than recently on Twitter, where the hashtag #mydepressionlookslike allowed people everywhere to explain what their depression meant to them.
The hashtag took off, serving to show – valuably – that depression is different for everyone AND, crucially, that we can’t necessarily see when someone is suffering.
#mydepressionlookslike nothing because I'm afraid of burdening others with problems in my head I don't even understand.
— Jade Tolbert (@jadelizroper) 24 May 2016
I crave laying on my bed, I avoid social situations, I sleep often (but not often enough), and I procrastinate #MyDepressionLooksLike
— anthony j. willyams (@anthoknees) 26 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike me slowly distancing myself from everyone/everything I once loved, therefore becoming isolated & even more miserable.
— ☾ (@disintegrxting) 23 May 2016
#mydepressionlookslike not being able to get out of bed due to emotional exhaustion some days while outsiders think you're just simply lazy
— alicia (@aliciaaadani) 23 May 2016
#mydepressionlookslike a wide smile cut short because my mind decided to trigger a negative thought while I'm supposed to be having fun
— J (@younggwhite) 23 May 2016
#mydepressionlookslike having to evaluate whether my problems are severe enough to ask for help bc I don't want to be a constant burden.
— jorie (@pokpokofcolor) 23 May 2016
#mydepressionlookslike being told "why are u sad? ur so pretty!" "but u have ppl who love u!" & feeling guilty for something I can't help
— cake face p (@palomaxcordova) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike Nothing. Not sadness, not panic, not dread, just awful nothingness that stretches on for months at a time.
— Hutch (@z0mgItsHutch) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike hiding it because of the social stigma and worrying I'll embarrass those I care about.
— Tina (@TinaDayton) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike high functioning, hard working on the outside and lethargy, self-loathing, and exhaustion on the inside.
— [work in progress] (@colocha_rachel) 22 May 2016
#mydepressionlookslike using humor to cover up the fact that im so miserable every single day
— julia (@tiffanybIewz) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike getting a full night of sleep yet waking up and still feeling tired.
— vomit spit (@KatHeartwell) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike apologizing for everything I do even if it's not my fault
— Followlimit (@R3TroBeanie) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike having progress with things and thinking I'm finally happy again then it crashes down and I'm back to the beginning.
— italian ting (@jenna_palmiero) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike Withdrawing from the people who care about me because I don't want them to feel bad that they can't help me.
— Keisha (@grlnxtdoorisblk) 22 May 2016
#MyDepressionLooksLike
— SummerBeard2016 (@OddKSM) 22 May 2016
Cancelling/not having energy to make plans, not spending time with the people I love, and guilt-hating myself for it.
By sharing their experiences, those with depression are quashing the misconceptions and stereotypes of depression that sadly still exist, while putting out the message that those suffering SHOULD be able to talk about how they feel. We applaud them for it, and hope it will help bring about much needed understanding and compassion.
If you are suffering from depression, please know it's an illness, and you are perfectly entitled to seek help for how you feel. You're not a burden, you don't have a responsibility to bury your feelings and you CAN be helped. Trite as that may sound, we hope it helps.
If you are feeling depressed, see your doctor, call the Samaritans, talk.
