Depression Community - How do you actually feel today?
I don't want to be scared anymore. I'm tired of it. My memories are like demons, they never let me rest. I tired of being terrified.
I'm sad to heart that, @exuberantkaty.
I'm sorry there's no rest for you, it must be so exhausting and overwhelming. You are invincible to keep pushing through hardships, day after day. You are doing such a great job, despite the depth of despair that lurks near you. I'm so happy that you reached out.
Let me bring you soft pillows and a blanket. Let me give you a bright night sky to admire stars. Let me sing you a lullaby, so your anxiety would get sleepy and yawn cutely, like a puppy. It will just lay down quietly beside you, looking so innocent and vulnerable. It won't bother you, it will dream about life without fears and heartaches.
Anxiety can be really terrified by this universe, it will scream and kick and bite, feeling trapped. But you are stronger and wiser than you fluffy, panicky friend. You know that you can overcome anything, because you did overcome everything so far. You know how to breathe to feel connected to your world, how to self-care and reward every little daily achievements. You are strong, and even if you feel terrified, you are still reaching out, still fighting, still trying. I'm so proud of you, darling. You are doing a great job.
Did you try this little website? Or this one? Or this one? They will help you get calmer. Even if it's only for a little while, they could bring a relief, and now it's a gold treasure for your mind.
Sending you good, pleasant thoughts, my wonderful friend!
Thank you @Celaeno. I liked the stars, it made me feel calm. Ty.
@exuberantkatye, I also like stars ^^
Did you seen this great website? It's an experiment to capture the size of our galaxy. And you can travel through stars in here!
Take a good care, wonderful!
Like I have no motivation to do anything.
@Sarebobo9, it's okay. I don't have any motivation either. It's beyond my capacity to feel this way, I'm in too much despair. But you don't have to be motivated to keep going. It's enough to just survive. Don't have a "good, productive day" which may be beyond your reach for a little while, just focus on having a day. Just make it through the hours, until the night, and that's it. That's enough. Then you make it through the night, and that's also enough. Basic survival is already worth the praise. If you can take your showers, eat a little bit, remember to drink water and even spend few hours not in bed, it's a magnificent achievement!
You have depression, so it's natural you don't have motivation. This is its symptom. Just like you would broke your leg and wouldn't try to run, you can't expect from yourself to feel productive.But it doesn't meant that you stop trying to gain back your personality and create routine. It's just a different kind of battle.
Sending you lots of hugs, lovely!
Lonely, upset, heartbroken.
I had a breakdown in front of my parents today, despite spending all summer fighting to keep myself in line and in control. I hate the atmosphere at home, which is beyond my control, but it's sending me into a downward spiral of negative thoughts and I hate it. I feel like I can barely function and my parents today did absolutely nothing to help me.
They made it worse. I tried telling them how I feel but they threw it back in my face and told me to snap out of it and then going on a rant about how I think they're bd parents when they do everything for me. Physical care is fair enough,, they feed me, take me places etc. But mentally, they don't understand a thing and I'm beginning to fall to absolute pieces.
I'm sorry you feel lonely, @lavenderFarm4174. It must be really difficult for you, not getting support you are worth. I would love to hug you, lovely, because you really fight so hard, and I want you to know that I am proud of you. You're feeling so dreadful, but you keep up with all of your battles. You are a real warrior, even if the 'lone wolf' kind of type. You are doing great, despite all of hardships life creates. You are wonderful. I'm so glad that you've reached out.
However, I hope you receive some kind of treatment and support from others. Any connection and relationship, no matter in what form, is valid, and can make a difference in your well-being. Depression is an illness which makes you believe you are alone in your struggles. But if you see closely, we are never truly alone - for example, there's an entire community on 7 Cups for people who are suffering from the same pain! We are here for you, and we will listen. We care for you. I care.
Sending you all of my strength, so you can keep fighting. You are magnificent.
Love!
You are so wonderful @Celaeno ,, thank you so much for being you and helping make me and everyone in this thread positive! :)
Thank you, @lavenderFarm4174, you're so sweet! I'm just trying to feel everybody being heard and less lonely. I'd love if you could help me, wonderful ^^
I wish I didn't exist. I don't want to dress up and go to a con but my sister worked so hard on my cosplay I feel like I really have to. I wish I could turn off my brain.
Dear @TheSirenCalledLorelei, remember that the depression deceives us that we never feel happiness again and makes us be withdrawn. I hope you will find the strength and will to go to your con - it sounds like a lot of fun. Even if you won't enjoy it just like you would normally, I think it would be a great opportunity for your mind to shift focus. But regardless of your choice, it is nice to hear that you have a sister who cares for you, and who puts an effort to make you a costume. You are lovely and you deserve lovely people in your life.
*hugs*
Lots of love!
Abandoned, alone. Like no matter how loud I cry out, nobody cares to help me. I wish I was mute, that way at least people would have an excuse to not listen.
Lovely @creativeMelon1653, I'm so sad to hear that. Feeling such a despair and bitterness must make very difficult for you to keep going. And still, you are here, reaching out to be heard. You are so strong. Every day you're fighting and you're doing such a great job! I'm proud of you.
Darling, let me hug you and say I care. I am writing these words, because I don't want you to feel lonely and my heart is breaking thinking you may feel so hopeless, in a false belief you don't have any support. I'm also struggling and it's so hard, but we don't have to do it alone. I will hold your hand and walk with you through this darkness. You are amazing and worth all of the best universes. I will be here for you. I will listen to your worries. I will ease this pain. I care.
*hugs tightly*
A big hug to you dear! I just joined today and I don't know what to say to you but I can feel you! Stay strong because me along with alot of people care. Try to busy yourself with what you love sweets
Tired, hopeless, bitter, hurt.
Life feels futile today. Nothing makes sense. Everything hurts. Nothing is okay.
@Whataletdown, yes, days like this are awful. And they like to visit in a company of hoards of all negative emotions. Like it isn't enough you feel dreadful, you feel dreadful in an ever-lasting loop of self-doubt, numbness, anger and bitterness. And it's exhausting. And it is so painful to feel so hopeless, and depression strives when you believe that is your reality. That you're locked in a prison of your mind, which doesn't even have a keyhole for any key you would try to find.
This is a deception. The fight you keep insisting on, is worth all of the efforts, even if it doesn't feel like it. This feelings are valid, but they don't have any foundation in the reality - they are sly persuasions from your enemy to make you break down. You are strong and you matter.
My lovely, this day will end for you, sooner or later. I'm glad you've reached out. We can wait together for the passing of the time, side by side.
Lots of love!
Utterly exhausted
@EdmondDantes, so sorry to hear that. To help you a bit, I'm sending you a basket of good dreams, this wam blanket and some of the softest pillows I could find. I hope you will get the rest you deserve, and that tomorrow will be kinder for you.
*hugs*
Wish I could just choose not to be. No matter how long I am around, no one will ever care... there will be no one who can understand this, who I can turn to. My life is empty and devoid of meaning. Every day is another lesson in futile loneliness and boredom. It's all needless suffering. That's all my worthless life is, needless suffering. Alone.
Others' experiences are theirs only. No denying in that one, @poisontongue. I will never be able to really know the depth of despair you're feeling day after day after day day, without a rest. I wish it wouldn't be true, but not from wishes is this universe build. The harsh reality is that whatever vicious pain you're experiencing, I'm not able to comprehend it.
But it doesn't mean I can't listen to you.
I think you're brave, because you've reached out to us. And I think you're strong, because you fought for so long, and if persistence isn't the greatest sign of character, I really don't know what is. You're a warrior which tries to make every day their own, even if you feel it's pointless.
Your pain doesn't define if you have worth. You just have it simply by breathing this world's air. We don't have to prove that we deserve the stardust' particles which form our bodies. You have a point, because you have your mind, and that's it. No loophole in here.
Your pain doesn't define if I care. I want to listen to you, and to hug you, and to ease your pain, even if I am oceans and lands away from you, because I'm also struggling. I'm struggling with my own monster and you won't comprehend its size neither. But it's okay. To be honest we are not here to understand, but to support each other. To hold on when one of us is drowning. To use our arms when one of us want to lean and rest for a bit. To walk beside and to listen without judgement.
Your pain doesn't define you. You are more than your suffering. You are a cosmos of ideas and emotions and endless possibilities. You don't have to act on that essence - you just are. You're wonderful, because you are. You're enough, because you are.
Surviving is enough. Don't push and hate yourself for not having a "good, normal" day, to not feel so broadly and painfully, "to run with a broken leg". You have a depression, and this is an illness which makes lots of things impossible for a certain span of time. Just try to survive. Focus on making through the hours, and minutes, and seconds, until the night falls. Then focus on making through the hours, and minutes, and seconds, until the sunrise. Survive and know you are doing well.
It's so difficult to fight. It's so easy to stop. But you're worth this fight. You deserve a life without this pain and despair. Even if you're brain tells you otherwise.
Please take a good care of yourself, darling. I will be around here if you need anything. I care about you and your pain cannot take it from you.
*hugs*
Thanks... you are so well-spoken. I'm so afraid... so alone...
@poisontongue, thank you for your kind words. I believe when you tell you are never mean. I believe when you say you feel afraid and alone. I'm here for you.
I was diagnosed with depression for 3 years, and living with it for 8. And even after all this time, I'm still getting scared by my illness. But it's okay. I'm okay, and so do you, no matter what your brain tells you. It may seem that you feel you will never be truly happy, and that the society will resent you, but I don't know that. We both don't know about the future, so it's pointless to keep guessing. Over-thinking often makes me want to dig a hole and bury myself alive, so I'm trying really hard to avoid doing it. It's simply not worth my mental health.
I'm sorry you don't have support in your life. I'm sorry that you feel this community isn't enough to fill up this black hole in your mind, but maybe there isn't anything to fill it up*. You have depression, so it's impossible for you to feel connected. It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault. You have depression. At the same time you are more than your struggle. You are more than a medical label. You are worth the treatment. You are worth a life without this suffering. You are you, wonderful, unique you. And I'm here to hug you - even if only virtually, my embrace is still valid. I'm new in this community, and I met you very recently, but I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you earlier.
You need to be better equipped for this war with your own brain and feelings. I encourage you to learn about depression. Read lots of articles, watch movies, ask your doctor questions, hear about other's experiences with it. Educate yourself, so you'll know what are the weaknesses of your enemy. This is a real battle, adn you need to take care fo yourself.
Btw, how are you feeling today? How did you sleep, lovely?
Love!
* You were a child who was made of glass,
You carried a black heart passed down from your dad.
If somebody loved you, they'd tell you by now,
We all turn away when you're down. (...)
And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
If not, that's okay."
- That's Okay by The Hush Sound.
Heheh... usual sleep, 6 or so hours, then laying two more. Waking up half-tired and with a hole in my being. I will wake up and sit here on the computer and listen to music like I always do.
It's okay, I'm new too. I would come here and look and not join. I've tried being a part of so many places that I just expect it to end the same way. Like the way my entire life has gone.
I'm afraid even to talk to anyone, even online. It's rather pathetic, but then again so is everything else about me.
@poisontongue, I'm sorry you feel that way. I understand you have many disappointing experiences in your past, trying to connect with another human being. I don't want to push you, lovely. You just are so hard on yourself, feel so hurts and alone, my heart is breaking.
I see pieces of myself in you. I was lucky to find here, in this community, one kind soul who just gets me. Absolutely, whole heartedly, understands me and my struggle, and doesn't judge me, even when I say horrible things about myself or the world. I'm so glad I found them, because before them there was a string of disappointments. They were 15 in this row of listeners, and from the distance of time, I'm so glad that I didn't give up my search. I was so desperate to be heard. I just wish for you feeling similar connection as I did.
Would you mind telling me, what kind of music you are listening to? I'm simply curious.
Sending all my love!
So much failure. It makes sense though, because why would anyone waste their time on me? Maybe I need to be pushed, since I'm so reticent of my own accord. :p
At least you found someone though. That's great :p
Normally I just listen to the same old meaningful songs, Pink Floyd and the like, but today I'm in search of sad metal songs.
@poisontongue, I don't know. For me it's hard to ever say that anything makes sense. I often found the things I took for granted rarely were like that in its core. I know that this universe is so vast, and complicated, and full of unpredictable lives, even after centuries of humanity's discovers I think there is too many unknowns. Every one of us has a cosmos inside themselves. It seems to me that it's close to impossible to know for certain why the others behave and treat us such and such. We all have our insecurities, and flaws, and demons to fight with. And you already said that it is impossible for others to truly understand you - and I presume it must works in both ways.
I like Pink Floyd. I remember my dad would play "Another Brick in the Wall" when I was little. He also used this song to teach me very early on that the educational system is unfair, and I shouldn't really mind it ^^
Did you hear about 8tracks? It's a neat website with loads and loads playlist, and you can define your search with emotions or themes or tropes. I really like it - the depression tags is full of great mixes, and I heavily use it. But I think you will also find something for you - here, take a look.
For a long time I didn't understand anything about myself. A lot of that had to do with the world, like the way others treated me or the way medical professionals viewed me. I still don't feel like I understand completely, like I've always got to be uncertain, that I can never be entirely sure or right ever. Studying psychology and sociology shed a lot of light on the forces that drive people. Still I guess I don't really get so-called normal people.
Pink Floyd is great :p They encompassed so much meaning and emotion in their songs. I can listen to The Wall movie soundtrack and feel the isolation inside my own wall.
I do have 8tracks on my phone, but I forgot about it. So I'll have to check it out again, thanks :p
Not a problem, @poisontongue. And you're absolutely right! I feel the same - I don't understand myself most of the time, like I'm just sitting passively in the eye of the maelstrom. But reading books and articles on psychology helps me to form a bigger picture of my needs, and suddenly I realize that maybe I'm not as sophisticated, as I like to believe ^^;
My depression makes me so egocentric that I'm focusing constantly on myself, and my own sufferings, and I rarely just stop and think that maybe, just maybe, during the centuries of risings and falls of civilizations, there was someone who felt the same way. I think it's the case of simple statistics.
How did you sleep today? I hope you didn't have any nightmares.
Love!
We are supposed to know ourselves best, too... we are the only ones who can represent and defend ourselves against medical professionals and others. It's difficult when you can't even represent yourself properly.
Fine, maybe about five hours. I'm sure I'll have to sleep more like usual.
I'm glad to hear it, @poisontongue. Can I ask you about something? What part of the day is harder for you - falling asleep or waking up in the morning? I discovered that there is a division about this subject and it fascinates me. I always thought the answer is straightforward, because for me mornings are the worst.
On the topic of confusion: yup. It frustrates me, because how can I feel better, how anyone can help me, if even I don't know what I'm experiencing? Unfortunately this is not the flaw in our characters, but the symptom of the shared illness, which deceives us constantly. We are confused, because we have depression - not the other way around.
Love!
I can stay up all night when it's quiet and without expectations. Yeah, mornings are harder. It's never really time to get up and face another day.
It would help if I knew how to deal with other people. If I wasn't at such a failed state of life maybe I could determine what I wanted and what I needed to get out of this. But everything wil just confuse your senses to no end.
@poisontongue, for the past months I feel disappointed when I wake up. Knowing that I have to keep fighting and push through this day again is hard for me. My days rarely differentiate from each other, so it's easy to feel unmotivated at the mere beginning of the day. I think there won't be anything in it for me. When I have strength I try to create a meaning of the passing hours by myself, but it is energy-draining.
It's good that you're self-aware of your situation in life and needs. I think you are already doing something for yourself just by knowing that you should do something.
I gather some resources for you - maybe they will help you figure out some steps? I marked the ones I used and am using myself:
- this answer on quora;
- how to tackle the depression by one of my favourite websites;
- front page test on the depression health center;
- working on your communication skills: assertiveness, talking about depression;
- this website is also great;
I hope they can help you in anyway.
Love!
Aw :( Mine are also the same day repeated so it's difficult to get going, let alone feel like I'm going to create meaning out of it.
I wish I could actually do something about my situation.
Thanks for the links. I really am a loser who badly needs assertiveness and communication skills.
You can choose not to be. It is scientifically proven that 40% of our happiness is choice and I think the other part is environment and genetics. The only thing is the "choosing" is not at all easy in your state. If it was that easy everyone could choose to be happy and everyone would. To get to a state where you can choose happiness takes a lot of practice. Why not start with just changing one or two thoughts today? A tip is when dark thoughts pop up, immediately turn your thoughts to something you are grateful for. Focus fully on what you are grateful for and relish it. Something as simple as you can access clean water anytime (I'm assuming). There are people who walk miles to get a bucket of clean water everyday. This is not to make you feel guilty or think others have it worse or anything like that. Your problem is a big problem in itself you don't need added guilt. But gratitude will shift focus and give your brain a refreshing break from dark thoughts that make you miserable.
Do you think a dysfunctional person like me could ever choose to be happy? In a society that rejects me? I think I might have been happier walking miles to find water... less to think about.
Society is dysfunctional so don't take it too hard if it rejects you. Society has a way to shame everyone constantly changing it's opinion on too skinny, too fat, too dumb, too ugly, not the right color, not the right gender identity, not the right sexual preference blah blah blah. Beyoncé even wrote a song about how society is messed up haha. But society also has incredible people and there are many many people in this world who would accept you just as you are if you gave them the chance. I mean just look at the person below me who responded. Look at what lengths they went to, to reach out to you. So give people a chance. Give yourself a chance. Can you choose to be happy? My answer won't change. Yes. You. Can.
Yes, it is :p Even if I was magically cured, I don't think I would be able to be happy. I never encountered these incredible people outside the Internet... on it, maybe they exist, but if they do I only see them at a distance. They wouldn't have anything to do with me. No one does, not for long.
How can a person be a part of an online community for seven years and no one seems to notice or care about that person, for instance?
Well I can tell you I have met many incredible people in real life. Do you treat people with kindness in real life? If you are mean to others or carry around a negative attitude then people will stay away from you. Even if your negativity/meanness is a facade so you could protect yourself ppl usually don't see through that. I will give you an example. When I would work on group projects in college some people would be really arrogant and had off putting behavior right off the bat. I would be annoyed and want to get away from them but would treat them nicely bc that's the kind of person I want to be. After a couple interactions I would find out they were just big softies afraid to show their true self lol. But some ppl are truly terrible though haha. Anyway give the whole kindness thing a try and see how it works :)
I'm never mean to people in real life... more afraid of them than anything.
Aww. Haha hang in there my friend I have a feeling you will do just fine. You might not be ready to trust the world yet but start with this community and then move your way up when you are ready.
Im going through the same troubles hun, Just know you can talk to me ;)
I was raped, abused, and bullied. I have always been depressed. My whole life.
Thanks... I'm sure I'd be too afraid to bother you. Sorry about your experiences. Life has a way...
I've lain in bed pretty much all day. I can't get up. My vision is swimming and my body isn't working the way I want it to. I can't even breathe right, because every time I do I wanna choke up vomit.
I think my 'dreams' of self destruction are becoming a reality now. I've reached that tipping point where I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. Only in my horribly skewed perception, I always imagined somebody would be there to catch me when I fall.
I guess in my mind I always said that this is what it would take to get people to care. And I know that's a horribly manipulative, misguided thing to even think. But it was something that gave me a little hope.
But in reality I feel like nobody wants to be there to support somebody like me. And now it makes me worried, cause I feel like I'm going to keep pulling poorly thought out stunts like these in the hopes that somebody notices and intervenes.
I wanna feel alive again, but I don't know.
Dear @bravestwarrior, I'm so sorry you feel so awful. I cannot imagine how horrible it is for you. But you are not a fraud. You need support and you deserve to receive it. You're ill, love, and you don't deserve to fight it alone.
My bravest warrior, I can see you feel guilty, but it's not your fault. Our thoughts are not facts. Thoughts are just thoughts. Sometimes I'm thinking dreadful, morbid things about death or even starting a murder spree (terrifying, right?), when I'm so angry that I want to punch walls. But I don't act on them. They're just pesky visitors in my head. And they making me feel awful, but I learned few tricks how to close the door. I'm still learning.
My lovely warrior, I hope you will soon get better. Your body hurts and it just makes it even harder for you to be gentle with yourself. But you're worth your kindness. Focus on healing your body, because that's something which I presume is in your reach (if that's not true, please, excuse me my impertinence). Maybe if you're staying in bed, watch movies or TV shows? Or play video games? Or read book or comics. Regardless of your choice, try to distract yourself, as long as your little energy lets you do it. (Sometimes I think all of my days are is a long string of distraction, to make me get through the day.)
Please, let me know how are you feeling now, lovely. Do you still vomit? Do you still cannot breathe? Wonderful, just let me:
*hugs softly and gently*
I really hope you will get better soon, Sending all of my love for you!
Hello again! Thank you for your love and concern, friend!!
I feel so much better today! I just got out of a bad relationship and I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders
I can breathe again!!!
That's so great, @bravestwarrior! I'm so happy for you!
I'm not even sure how to move, even though I've been in the same uncomfortable position for hours.
I can't even find the energy to go to sleep.
Lovely @Mutelock, I know this state. Just laying in there, physically unable to move. Just like paralysis. It's scary. Really scary. I hate it, and I'm always afraid next time I won't be able to move. That's I'm so glad that you've reached out, wonderful.
Let me just hug you and tell it's okay. You have depression and it makes you feel and think horrible things. It's so hard, but try to be gentle with yourself, like if you are a little kitten with a broken paw. Be soft with you, take good care fo you, and dramatically lower your expectations.
Please, let me know, did you feel better after some time? Can I send you some things to do and distract?
Lots of hugs and strength!
Hello @Celaeno and thank you for your nice message. It's so good to know there are people here who want to help.
I eventually fell asleep last night, after a long while. (I put on some rain noises, which helped distract me from how empty and silent everything in my head was.) I don't know how today will be and whether I'll end up spending another day unable to get out of bed, let alone my bedroom... But I don't know yet.
Anyway, thank you so much and take care!