What does depression feel like?

Depression can show in many ways, but it often feels like a constant struggle to keep your head above water. It's as if every little task feels like a huge obstacle.

To me, depression feels like you're walking upstream through a current strong enough to pull you under 4 times over. There are others with you but they are walking along the banks, telling you to "just get out of the water." But instead of extanding hand to help, they just move on and leave you behind. Every once in a while, you find a rock that is strong enough for you to lean on, and you can rest for a bit. But the rocks always get tired of holding you up, and when they let go, you left drowning, thrown 50 ft back again. And nothing is harder than standing up in that current, when everything in you is telling you just how much easier things would be if you just let yourself get dragged under...

Depression feels like you and the world are nothingness. That nothing can't be felt or experienced which leaves you sad and wanting. You want to go out and be with people and have fun but there is no drive or motivation, it's just a nice idea. All you really want to do is be alone in silence without thinking or doing anything.

My body aches like I have the flu but I know I don’t. I feel tired, drained, and achy all over. I keep asking myself what is wrong with me, why can’t I just snap out of it, even though I already know the answer. I didn’t sleep well at all last night I kept waking up to a pool of my own sweat. I am so hot that I can’t keep the covers on me but as soon as I take them off I’m freezing cold, it’s a horrible feeling. I could barely find the motivation to get out of bed this morning to go to work and I love my job. I feel I am beginning to hate my job forcing myself to get up and go, which in turn makes me extremely anxious because I cannot afford to lose my job. Also, how do you even explain that to your employer that you are so depressed you can barely make it to work, it’s sad and embarrassing and I feel they wouldn’t even believe me if I told them. One thing with depression is you become a very great actor; you try and make people believe you’re happy so they don’t see the sadness. Also, it’s a sadness that I can’t explain, it’s a feeling of sadness even though nothing has happened to make me sad, I can’t explain it or make it go away. What is even worse is having anxiety and depression at the same time. It’s an overwhelming sadness and overwhelming fear all at the same time. I am torn between worrying about life and dreading life. It’s like I am standing in a crowded room screaming for help and not a single person even looks my way. To me anxiety is the worse of the two. It cripples me in fear, with a feeling of not being able to breath and sweating so much that my body is drenched. The fear makes me isolate myself from everyone, with this overwhelming feeling of being judged, which in turn makes me feel so alone. I feel as if no one cares about me like I am all alone in this. It is taking everything I got not to cry right now while I am sitting at work. It’s so embarrassing I can’t stand it. I feel like such a loser even though I know I am strong. It’s been hours and I still can’t shake this feeling. I feel shaky, light headed, and I keep feeling like I am going to throw up. I am so hazy I can barely focus; it’s like being in a bad dream. I’m exhausted and have no motivation, I just want to lie in bed and never get out.

It sucks. A lot. But it's also how you deal with it that truly matters. For myself, I learned how to live and cope with my depression and anxiety by finding things in life that make me content. When I have anxiety I begin to play a song in my head and listen to the tune to keep me grounded. I also found that talking to someone or even singing helps keep me from tipping over the edge to anxiety. I also found that breathing in deeply and just relaxing helps as well.

its like you're drowning and no one is around you, you try to fight it but you never survive it. Then you chock more and you just want it to stop, you want to feel okay again, you want to feel safe, you feel like you need a home.

different for everyone. the dictionary definition would give you a more general definition but it is still affected by individual difference even if everyone with depression/anxiety have the same symptoms.

Super difficult. Sometimes it leads you to overthink. Like you are feeling worthless, alone, unloved, and many different negative feelings. And to be honest, being depressed is really hard to overcome.

Its like your stuck in the ground and cant get out, and the more you struggle to get out, the farther you get in. Then people will laugh at you because they've never felt what it's like to be stuck for 3 years

Anxiety means you are nervous about everything or anxious that something, maybe out of your control, will happen. Depression is hard and can make you think you failed at life and everything you do is terrible. They are different but they come hand in hand.