10 Depression Quotes To Feel Less Alone In Your Mental Health Journey
If you’ve ever journaled, read an inspirational book, or used a vision board, you may already understand the power of a simple quote.
Language is powerful. Our words can serve as sources of inspiration, creativity, and clarity, especially during difficult seasons of life.
Whether you’re living with depression or another mental health condition, the following list of depression quotes can offer guidance and make you feel less alone in your mental health journey.
10 Quotes For People Living With Depression
These 10 quotes speak to the difficult realities of depression. At the same time, the quotes also highlight the ability of people diagnosed with depression to heal, connect meaningfully with others, and live healthy, fulfilling lives.
“Depression is like a heavy blanket. It covers all of me, and it’s hard to get up. But there’s comfort in it too. I know who I am when I’m under it.” – Unknown
While this depression quote comes from an unknown source, the words powerfully express the weight and familiarity of this condition, particularly for people who experience chronic depression.
If you’re living with PDD, your symptoms may feel familiar and perhaps even like a part of your identity. With proactive and ongoing treatment, however, you can enhance your quality of life and ability to engage in everyday activities.
"I was okay just a moment ago. I will learn how to be okay again." – Nina LaCour, We Are Okay
In We Are Okay, a young adult novel about grief and friendship, one of LaCour’s characters reflects on feeling “okay” and their ability to continue healing and growing – even against the backdrop of depression.
Depending on the type of depression and severity of symptoms, “recovery” from depression and symptom management looks different for every person. Promisingly, depression has a high treatment success rate, and many people manage their symptoms with a combination of psychotherapy, anti-depressant medication, support groups, and/or personalized coping strategies.
"Things to do today: 1) Breathe in, 2) Breathe out." – Ned Vizzini, It's Kind of a Funny Story
If you’re living with depression, you may choose to look to literature for a spark of creative inspiration. This is another quote from a famous author, whose story about a teen’s experience in a psychiatric hospital moved readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Sometimes, one of the most powerful ways to cope with a depressed mood is to simply tune into your breath, as this quote implies. Several studies suggest that deep breathing exercises can reduce depressive symptoms by alleviating the physical effects of stress, which often contributes to depression.
“Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears - it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. But for many of my neurological patients, music is even more - it can provide a way, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. For them, music is not a luxury, but a necessity.” – Oliver Sacks
Oliver Sacks, a neurologist and author, said this quote about the healing power of music for his patients. People living with depression may listen to or create music as a coping strategy, or even consider music therapy to supplement talk therapy and other traditional treatments.
Studies have found that music therapy can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and that simply listening to a favorite song or relaxing tune for a set amount of time can reduce depressive symptoms.
“Art is a wound turned into light.”- Georges Braque
If you’re struggling with symptoms of depression, visual art may be another source of solace and healing. As a painter and the originator of this quote, Georges Braque viewed art as a vehicle to express and transform pain into something beautiful.
Even if you have limited experience with the arts, tapping into your creativity only requires simple materials and a willingness to try something new. Some people enjoy craftier activities like knitting, collaging, or scrapbooking, while others gravitate toward detailed drawings, expressive paintings, and other forms of fine art.
If you’re looking for more guidance, a licensed art therapist can help you find fun, innovative ways to express yourself through art. Art therapy can support people with depression, anxiety, and anyone else seeking to build their self-esteem through visual expression.
“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” — John Green
Award-winning author John Green includes this quote in Turtles All the Way Down: a novel of love, resilience, and lifelong friendship.
When you’re experiencing depression, you may feel hopeless or uncertain about your ability to recover from a depressive episode. Although these thoughts and feelings are real, they won’t last forever. With the support of loved ones and potentially a psychotherapist, you can challenge and overcome unhealthy patterns of thinking in favor of positive, healthy thoughts.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common intervention to help individuals understand and change unwanted thought patterns, especially in the context of depression. Some studies find that CBT can treat depression as effectively as antidepressants and other psychiatric medications.
"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." — David Mitchell
In this quote from Cloud Atlas, a science fiction novel, one of David Mitchell’s characters celebrates the humanity and resilience of people living with depression. As this quote implies, depression is an inevitable reality of being human for many people.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with depression or have supported a loved one through a depressive episode, many people encounter this condition at some point in their lives. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting approximately 280 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization.
“I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to go through it; you’re not going to be the last to go through it.” — Dwayne Johnson
Wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson opened up about his experience with depression in a series of interviews. In recent years, more celebrities and public figures have candidly discussed their mental health journeys, supporting efforts to destigmatize mental illness and help people feel less alone.
Loneliness and depression are often interlinked. In a complex cycle of emotions, loneliness can lead to feelings of depression, or vice versa. Regardless of which feeling comes first, both depression and loneliness can make you feel isolated from friends, family, and acquaintances.
Fortunately, loneliness – and, relatedly, depression – can often be combatted with the power of old-fashioned human connection.
If you’re feeling depressed and disconnected from other people, you may be surprised by the power of a 10-minute phone call with a family member or a short walk with an old friend. However small, these moments of connection offer long-term benefits for your mental and physical health.
“It's not all bad. Heightened self-consciousness, apartness, an inability to join in, physical shame and self-loathing—they are not all bad. Those devils have been my angels. Without them I would never have disappeared into language, literature, the mind, laughter and all the mad intensities that made and unmade me.” — Stephen Fry
In his memoir, Moab Is My Washpot, comedian and writer Stephen Fry explores how his mental health and personal struggles shape his life, identities, and creative ventures.
When reflecting on your mental health history, you may gain unexpected lessons from past experiences with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. To connect with more people, some writers and artists explore their pasts and use those lessons to inform their creative work.
“Seek out the memories depression takes away and project them into the future. Be brave; be strong; take your pills. Exercise because it’s good for you even if every step weighs a thousand pounds. Eat when food itself disgusts you. Reason with yourself when you have lost your reason.” ― Andrew Solomon
In this quote from The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, Andrew Solomon outlines some of the fundamental steps for managing his depressive symptoms.
Because depression ranges widely in severity and personal experience, every person’s steps toward recovery will look slightly different. That said, some of the most basic acts of self-care can have the biggest impacts, like eating a nourishing snack or taking a walk around the block with a friend or pet.
Take The First Steps Toward Healing: Online Therapy For Depression
Psychotherapy is a common and effective treatment option for people diagnosed with depression. While some prefer to start therapy in-person, others appreciate the convenience of an online therapy platform like BetterHelp.
BetterHelp therapists are thoroughly vetted and offer years of experience and expertise. Many help clients manage symptoms of depression and other mental health conditions, and patients can message their therapists at any time: a feature that may be especially valuable for people experiencing a wide range of depressive symptoms or other challenges throughout the week.
A significant body of research highlights the potential and effectiveness of online therapy, including a 2019 randomized controlled trial of an internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (iCBT) program for adults with symptoms of depression. In other studies, iCBT has shown similar effectiveness for treating depression compared to face-to-face CBT, and this study reaffirms these findings. The severity of participants’ depression symptoms reduced significantly over 8 weeks, coupled with significant improvements in their anxiety symptoms, work and social functioning, and resilience.
Counselor Reviews
Lauren has been extremely helpful to me in dealing with my anxiety and depression and getting me through some tough situations. I am extremely happy I got assigned to her and will continue to be her client. She is wonderful."
Chris has helped me manage my depression and anxiety in meaningful, productive ways. He helps me gain a clearer perspective and identify negative thought patterns that are at odds with a healthy, positive outlook. I would recommend Chris to anybody else trying to deal with their depression."
Takeaway
If you’re looking for more inspiration, a therapist or another mental health professional can offer additional words of wisdom, backed by empathy and years of professional training.
What is the best quote for feeling sad?
When feeling sad, it can be helpful to find comfort and inspiration in words that resonate with your emotions. Here's a quote that acknowledges the reality of sadness while offering a perspective of hope:
"Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity." - Carl Jung
What is a famous sad quote?
One famous sad quote is from William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." In Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet utters the well-known line:
"To be, or not to be: that is the question."
This quote reflects Hamlet's contemplation of life, death, and the struggles he faces. It is often cited as a profound expression of existential sadness and the internal conflicts experienced by the character. The full soliloquy goes on to explore the challenges and sufferings of life, making it one of the most iconic and introspective passages in literature.
What are some painful quotes?
Here are a few quotes that express themes of pain and suffering:
- "The wound is the place where the light enters you." - Rumi
- “Today my Forest is dark, all the trees are sad, and the butterflies have broken wings.” - Raine Cooper
- "The saddest thing about love is that not only the love cannot last forever, but even the heartbreak is soon forgotten." - William Faulkner
- "It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace." - Chuck Palahniuk
- "Behind every beautiful thing, there's some kind of pain." - Bob Dylan
These quotes reflect on the emotional complexity of pain, heartbreak, and the challenges that come with love and life. Keep in mind that quotes are subjective and can be interpreted in various ways based on personal experiences and perspectives.
What are some loneliness quotes?
Here are some quotes that touch on the theme of loneliness:
- "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty." - Mother Teresa
- "The eternal quest of human beings is to shatter his loneliness." - Norman Cousins
- "Loneliness is and always has been the central and inevitable experience of every man." - Thomas Wolfe
- "Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better." - Henry Rollins
- "Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose." - Guillermo Maldonado
What are some anxiety quotes?
Here are some quotes that capture the essence of anxiety:
- "You don't have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you." - Dan Millman
- "Anxiety's like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you very far." - Jodi Picoult
- "Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety." - Plato
- "You can't always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside." - Wayne Dyer
- "Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." - Henry Ward Beecher
- "It's sad, actually, because my anxiety keeps me from enjoying things as much as I should at this age." - Amanda Seyfried
- "You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." - Eleanor Roosevelt
What is a quote about mental pain?
One quote that touches on the theme of mental pain is:
Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.”
― C.S. Lewis
Another quote about mental pain and depression is:
“That's the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it's impossible to ever see the end.”
― Elizabeth Wurtzel
What is a hard life quote?
Here's a quote that reflects the challenges of a difficult life:
"The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn." - David Russell
This quote metaphorically speaks to the difficulty of making decisions in life, particularly when faced with tough choices and challenges. It emphasizes the complexity of navigating through hardships and the importance of discernment in choosing one's path forward.
What is a sad fact about depression?
One sad fact about depression is that despite increased awareness, there is still a stigma for a huge crowd of people surrounding mental health concerns, including depression. Misunderstandings and judgments about the nature of depression can create barriers to seeking help and support when depression hits. However, through ongoing discussion and normalization of mental health topics, we may move past the stigma and provide helpful depression support in the future.
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