I was asked what depression feels like. It's difficult to describe to someone who has never experienced it. We all know someone who has experienced occasional depression, as have most of us, and maybe you or someone you know has been diagnosed with depression. As a lot of you know, I'm represented by J. Pepin Gallery who represents artists with a diagnosed mental health illness and the gallery (Jennifer Pepin) is helping to bring awareness to mental health illness. I know a few people who have lost a loved one to mental illness and it's hard for them to ever wrap their head around their loss.
Here is what depression feels like to me:
It is a perpetual feeling of sadness. It's like being smothered by darkness. Everyone and everything is a blur and colors are muted and sounds are muffled. Relationships and friendships (those who stay) are strained. Depression is paralyzing. It's like death to your soul, with your spirit is hanging by a thread.
Well meaning people offer advice they think will help, such as "Just cheer up and everything will be okay." Or "Just think happy thoughts." And "Get outside and get some fresh air and exercise and you will feel better." As you can see from my description above, it isn't that easy for the one who is caught in the grip of what feels like death.
Here is what depression feels like to me:
It is a perpetual feeling of sadness. It's like being smothered by darkness. Everyone and everything is a blur and colors are muted and sounds are muffled. Relationships and friendships (those who stay) are strained. Depression is paralyzing. It's like death to your soul, with your spirit is hanging by a thread.
Well meaning people offer advice they think will help, such as "Just cheer up and everything will be okay." Or "Just think happy thoughts." And "Get outside and get some fresh air and exercise and you will feel better." As you can see from my description above, it isn't that easy for the one who is caught in the grip of what feels like death.
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