Depression is a genuinely severe disease that affects millions of people. Even those of us who don’t suffer from chronic, clinical depression will experience depression at different times in life. When depression strikes, it can feel like the end of the world. In some tragic cases, it is the end of the world for that person. To help you get through your depression, here are 15 quotes about depression to help you find the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
15 Quotes About Coping With Depression
1. “No darkness lasts forever. And even there, there are stars.” ~ Ursula K. Le Guin
The sun comes up every morning. In the same light, it’s important to remember that light will come into your life again soon enough. The bad times are only temporary. Even in those bad times, it’s important to find the little bits of light and happiness you can to make the best of it. When going through a hard time, quotes about depression remind us that good times will be right around the corner.
2. “The shadows are as important as the light.” ~ Charlotte Brontë
Depression is a necessary evil in life. If we don’t experience the bad parts of life, we won’t be able to appreciate the good parts truly. Happiness won’t feel quite as happy if we don’t understand what the opposite feels like.
3. “There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.” ~ Fred Rogers
Sadness does not only give us the opportunity to appreciate the good things in life. It also gives us a great opportunity to grow and learn about ourselves. While going through depression, we need to be emotionally and mentally strong. Getting through this hard time and developing this strength will help us get through the next period of depression.
4. “There will always be suffering. But we must not suffer over the suffering.” ~ Alan Watts
Quotes about depression remind us that sometimes it’s not really the depression that’s the problem. Sometimes, it’s how we handle the depression. There is already pain in the world. It’s pointless to add to the bad in your life by having a bad attitude. A good attitude will help you see the light at the end of the tunnel and get to the next stage of happiness more quickly.
5. “Depression is a medical condition. We need to create a world where people are as comfortable seeking care for their minds as they are for their bodies.” ~ Adam Grant
Many people fear to get help for their depression due to the social stigma associated with going to therapy and having a mental illness. As we learn more about psychology, it is clear that depression is a serious medical condition. It should be treated just like any other ailment. You would go to a doctor if you have a broken leg, so you should go to a doctor if you find yourself suffering from depression. You know that you have a problem if you’ve contemplated suicide, can’t get up in the morning or find yourself retreating from people and things you once loved.
6. “One of the best things that helps depression is work, and socializing with other people and connecting. Because when you work you find purpose.” ~ Trevor Noah
It’s not enough to acknowledge your depression. You need to learn how to get past it. To do this, you need to force yourself to get up and get moving. It can be difficult to do this when you have depression. However, once you get to work and socialize, you will start to live your life again, getting you out of your depression.
7. “Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them – if you want to.” ~ J.D. Salinger
We don’t necessarily have to know other people who have been through the same thing to benefit from their experiences. Some people were wise enough to write their stories down. People can read books written by other people who also experienced depression to see how they got through it. The books can be either nonfiction memoirs or fictional stories that tackle these topics. You may even choose to journal to help you get through your own depression.
8. “Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky
The fact is that some people almost seek out pain and depression. Some people do it for attention. Other people do it to make themselves feel special. Other people are just programmed incorrectly somehow. Whatever the case, it’s important to recognize and avoid self-sabotaging behavior.
9. “I was only able to start changing my life when I realized my depression was not a malfunction. It’s a signal. Your depression is a signal. It’s telling you something.” ~ Johann Hari
Listen to your depression and what it’s telling you. It could be telling you that you need to make some serious changes in your life. It could be that you need to lose weight, make a change in your relationship or profession, or change your own behaviors. Look inward to see what is making you depressed. If you take action to change things, your depression can go away.
10. “If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather.” Stephen Fry
This mental illness is a state of mind. Sometimes, the “why” isn’t really that important. What’s important is simply understanding that depression exists. talking about the reasons behind it can only prolong the depression. It’s best just to be supportive.
11. “With depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.” ~ Dwayne Johnson
Quotes about depression often remind us that we are not the only person who suffers. The importance of knowing this is that it can help you feel better about admitting your feelings to other people. It also helps you feel more comfortable when seeking support.
12. “There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them. But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them we will understand why they were there.” ~ Paulo Coelho
The universe works in mysterious ways, and things happen in life for a reason. It can be difficult or impossible for us to see the reasoning behind certain things that happen to us. It may be to teach you a lesson. Or, perhaps if might to open up the doors for new opportunities. We have to simply trust that there is a reason for whatever bad thing happened to you. Get through it and wait.
13. “Going through anxiety or depression or any other psychological condition doesn’t make you unlovable – it makes you human.” Seth J. Gillihan
Many people exclude themselves while feeling depressed or anxious. They do this because they think they are an imposition on the people around them. They don’t want to bring their sadness and anxiety into another person’s world. However, the truth of the matter is that social interaction can be extremely helpful. It can improve depression and relief stress. Plus, it could help make you stronger with the person who you socialize with. Everyone experiences these feelings in life, and they may see this new side of you and relate. You may even become part of a support system for each other in the future.
14. “The more you see and accept reality, the more you’ll understand and love yourself.” ~ Maxime Lagacé
Depression does not live in reality. It lives in a dark place in our minds. When we look at the reality of the situation, we may things aren’t as bad as we may have originally thought. The reality is that we are all lucky to be alive. We need to see the reality of getting out of our personal darkness.
15. “Humor is one of the most serious tools we have for dealing with impossible situations.” ~ Erica Jong
When all else fails, it’s best to see the humor in every situation. No matter how dark something may seem, there’s something to laugh about. Look for the humor and laugh. The act of laughing in itself will help alleviate your depression right then and there. It’s also good to learn how to use humor to help manage your mood. Put on some funny comedy shows or surround yourself with people who make your laugh.
Final Thoughts: These Quotes About Depression Can Provide a Lift to Your Spirits
Use these quotes about depression whenever you aren’t feeling great to help elevate your mood. We all go through depression at certain times. For some of us, it’s temporary. For other people, it’s a lifelong disease that requires serious attention. Either way, you should look for a support system to help get you through the bad times.
