30 Quotes About Depression to Remind You That You're Not Alone
Depression hurts, but these uplifting quotes can help.
Whether you love someone with depression or have depression yourself, you probably know first-hand just how painful mental illness can be. Depression comes with a number of psychological and physiological effects, such as exhaustion and disinterest in things you once cared about. Even though major depressive disorder (MDD) affects more than 16.1 million American adults, per the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, not enough people talk openly about mental health struggles or how common depression really is. There are plenty of effective resources out there that can help treat depression, including therapy and medication, but depression quotes can also help, if only to provide you with a little bit of hope.
From famous writers to some of your favorite celebrities, several public figures have spoken about their experiences with depression over the years, and their quotes about depression are full of insight and inspiration. Nothing can replace proper treatment from a medical professional, of course, but if you're hoping to better understand your loved one's experience or to make more sense of your own, then these wise words may just help. Here are the best quotes about coping with depression, from those who are still hurting and those who are starting to see the light.
The COVID-19 crisis has made life more challenging for everyone — especially those who are struggling with a mental illness. Visit NAMI’s COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide for additional advice. For more info on depression, visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. If you're thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Dwayne Johnson
"I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you're not alone."
Stephen Fry
"If you know someone who's depressed, please resolve to never ask why. Depression isn't a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather."
Kerry Washington
"My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don't know why I wouldn't seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth. I go to the dentist. So why wouldn't I go to a shrink?"
Lady Gaga
"Depression doesn't take away your talents—it just makes them harder to find."
Lili Reinhart
"You are the one thing in this world, above all other things, that you must never give up on...Asking for help is the first step. You are more precious to this world than you'll ever know."
Shaun David Hutchinson
"Depression isn't a war you win. It's a battle you fight every day."
Demi Lovato
"It's my mission to share this with the world and to let them know that there is life on the other side of those dark times that seem so hopeless and helpless. I want to show the world that there is life—surprising, wonderful and unexpected life after diagnosis."
Jeffrey Eugenides
"Depression is like a bruise that never goes away. A bruise in your mind. You just got to be careful not to touch it where it hurts. It's always here, though."
Matt Haig
"It is very hard to explain to people who have never known serious depression or anxiety the sheer continuous intensity of it. There is no off switch."
Sophie Turner
"I understand your pain. Trust me, I do. I've seen people go from the darkest moments in their lives to living a happy, fulfilling life. You can do it too. I believe in you. You are not a burden. You will NEVER BE a burden."
Prince Harry
"It is okay to have depression, it is okay to have anxiety, and it is okay to have an adjustment disorder. We need to improve the conversation. We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health."
Pete Wentz
"The hardest thing about depression is that it is addictive. It begins to feel uncomfortable not to be depressed. You feel guilty for feeling happy."
Khalil Gibran
"Sadness is but a wall between two gardens."
John Green
"There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't."
Susan Polis Schutz
"Getting better from depression demands a lifelong commitment. I've made that commitment for my life's sake and for the sake of those who love me."
Jo Nesbo
"Losing your life is not the worst thing that can happen. The worst thing is to lose your reason for living."
Marion Cotillard
"When people don't know exactly what depression is, they can be judgemental."
Jennifer Niven
"It's my experience that people are a lot more sympathetic if they can see you hurting, and for the millionth time in my life I wish for measles or smallpox or some other easily understood disease just to make it easier on me and also on them."
Jonathan Franzen
"Depression presents itself as a realism regarding the rottenness of the world in general and the rottenness of your life in particular. But the realism is merely a mask for depression's actual essence, which is an overwhelming estrangement from humanity."
David Mitchell
"You say you're 'depressed'—all I see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn't mean you're defective—it just means you're human."
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
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