Personify Your Depression: If my depression were a person... [fill in the blank]
Personify Your Depression: I learned about this coping technique today. Imagine that your depression is a person separate from you. The idea is that personifying our depression helps remind us that depression doesn't define who we are ourselves, and that invasive self-critical thoughts we experience often come from our depression and not our healthy minds. Some things to think about are: what kind of person would it be, what kind of hobbies would it have, what would it look like, what would its name be?
So, if your depression were a person, what kind of person would it be?
My depression is a vile, vulturous creature, feasting on everything wholesome and beloved in my life. Though it perches upon my shoulder, I feel its weight most heavily in my chest. Somehow it both vacuums the air from my lungs and crushes my very will to live. Its sharp talons rip my skin to shreds, but I am numb to the pain. Constantly, it hisses into my eardrums, "Failure, lazy, good for nothing, loser, worthless, broken." Every day, I am dragged further down. Unmotivated. Self-Hating. Wasting Away.
It seems it must surely have killed me and picked through my remains. Now I lie and wait for flies to buzz around my hollow, dispassionate corpse, rotting over time.
How can I possibly hope to subdue this gnarled, twisted being so entangled with myself that I cannot tell where it ends and I begin?
if my depression were a person, it would constantly be looming over my shoulder. Some days i would feel like i'm free from it, but it'll still be there.
it would call me things that i wouldn't say the the worst person in the world. it would convince me i don't deserve any of the compliments i'm getting.
it would refrain me from getting help.
it would look like me.
@Skill3t
I could describe it in a similar way. Thanks for posting this it helped me relate to you as well.
@Skill3t
If my depression were a person, they would be my friend who would look angelic, telling me to trust them. I would slowly begin to trust it, the toxicness getting inside of me without realizing. Depression would make me do things I didn't want to and if I didn't listen it would make me feel guilty. Depression would whisper words in my ears telling me I'm not good enough and make tears fall out of my eyes, depression would hold a blade for me and make thin lines of red on my hands. It would suffocate me and try drown me all alone.
@Skill3t
If it were a person, it would be like someone who keeps criticizing my every action and insist they're right as they're some authoritative figure.
@Skill3t, this resonated with me. I'm sorry you feel this way, and I'm sorry that I can relate with this. But, if it helps, you're not alone.. mine looks like me too, and it's never been nice or comforting. Always mean.
My depression is already a person. My brother. But he would be dangling a degree over my head before throwing it in the fire. And then chaining me to my house and eating all my food. And stealing my money.
if my depression was a person then he or she would be very toxic. like, they would tell me they are gonna let me live, but then again come suffocate me to nearly death.
If they were a person then they would keep knives and sharp things with them at all times. and use them on me likewise.
If they were a person, they would be my abuser, my enemy. I would do anything to just escape. escape to i don't know where. but i would definitely escape.
people i know with bizarre new and evil personalities
If my depression were a person, it would be a toxic friend who gets jealous when I spend time with others. She would want me all to herself so she tries to keep me from talking to people. She also gets jealous of my happiness, so she tries to prevent me from feeling it. She attacks me hardest when I'm home alone without someone to distract me from her, and she whispers hurtful things about me into my ear.
It would hide its pain with a smile & cry in the dark. No one would get in for fear of being betrayed again.
If my deppression were a person, they'd be a hermit in the woods with no friends. Terrified to leave the house, afraid that when they go out, they'll outstay their welcome. Cowardice, tired. Dust has settled around and on them because they haven't moved in so long. Their voice would be like cicadas in the summer heat, their eyes burning from not even having the energy to close. Their lips would be chapped from crooked smiles that spit out jokes about how horrifying everything is. Kind of like a Foster The People song. Sounds happy, but if you actually care to listen, you'll find its the exact opposite.
If my depression were a person it would look like an army tank chasing me in a field of corn where when i make a move to get away, the corn i move gives away my location, and the chase is on again. This has gone on for so many years now that i dont move. Im stuck in a feild of corn with my fear and i cannot see the threat, but know its thete waiting for me to try again. I'm worn out, my legs cannot run anymore and the fear has corroded my life in so many way that i think about walking towards the sound of the tanks engine idling, but the low rumble is hard to pinpoint. I want to give up so i walk slowly with my white flag held up and i want this to end.
@TartRipeApples
