If your depression were a physical creature, what would it be?

[aidjm]

I started thinking about this a few weeks back, and I wanted to get some other people's insights. I've done a bit of writing just for something to do, and I was thinking about writing a story about a person whose depression manifests itself as a physical being.

For me, I kind of pictured it as a big black lizard-thing that sits on my shoulders and digs in with its claws, and doesn't want to let go.

What about you guys?

[the_motorcycle_boy]

Mine would be a BIG BLACK Grizzly enveloping me causing me to hibernate in discomfort and pain.

[Daisycqt]

My depression would be a shape shifting outline blurr that you can't quite see in the mirror. It stands behind me, large, hulking, enveloping but if no determined shape. It changes each time I tackle one shape and defeat it, into something new and stronger than before. 

[Daisycqt]

I can relate as that's how I feel sometimes. Although my creature is not as honest as a termite, it's in indeterminate shape go blurry oppression, it creates feelings very similar when it "feeds" as well

[Gsefton]

Hi I am a 27 year old guy that is so depressed all the time that I have this little thing on my shoulder all the time and some time's see it there on my shoulder when I look in the mirror and what I see is a little person that is red all over and has horns. To me I called it satin. Every day I just about do the same old thing. I feel so worthless,I not a good person , my wife and kids hate me because I can't do anything good for them and every time I try to I don't do anything right. All my life I have felt like this and that everyone does not like me. I am at that point where I hate myself because I can't do anything right

[SKUGS]

For me. It would be what i imagine to be an old friend, not something you see every day but you know they'll always come back and you'll never be without it in your life.

[SeverelyLost]

Hmmm. Difficult to discern really. I guess some awful thing that is invisible to everyone besides me, that is extremely slow, sometimes never moves, never gets anywhere. Makes it very difficult to get anywhere, and sleeps 95% of the time..... 

[PurpleShade]

Daisy, I can relate to your imagery, I feel a little similar.

I haven't thought about it as a creature before, more like a black cloud or encumbering black hooded unidentifiable being. I think a shape shifter as Daisy mentioned is a good description for me too

[thebearwithin9]

I think I'd be a bear.

They start off so cute, a ball of fur that everyone loves and they can make anybody and everybody smile. 

As they grow up, the begin to hibernate, people start to fear them, they become something to be feared and avoided. They are misunderstood creatures. They are scary on the outside and on the inside are sweet. I'm the paradox of that. Smiling on the outside and dying and terrifying to others on the inside. 

Hibernation is my every afternoon, I just go straight home and get into bed from 4pm till the next morning at 7am. 

#thebearwithin9

[honeybean]

Hi this is my first post. I think a black dog would fit best if my depression was a creature. Its not that imaginative but I wrote a poem about it. Hope to have a happier poem next time.

I have only started to do something about my depression in the last 8mths. Last meds were horrible but I put up with the side effects for 6 mths thinking it was normal and would be better than being depressed I went back to dr after a bad situation made me feel low again. Dr up dosage with in a few days had a massive panic attack. Decided it wasn't for me and threw them down the toilet...lets just say big mistake. Now have a New dr and back on meds(which seem to be working well) Also waiting for 1st therapy app. Am hopeful that therapy will help but feeling a bit lost and in limbo at the moment.

HEARTSCARS AND BLACKDOGS

Manic and made for pleasure and pain, Intertwined and inseparable, feeding into each other like a figure 8, physical and otherwise. I once knew something beautiful she said, something worth the risk. Fraying at the seems and still bleeding, she tries to cauterize old wounds, only to heal she says, only for them to turn cold, misshapen and become a permanent reminder. She relegates her heart to be only a keeper of misery. Quietly and with surprising ease she disowns her own heart hoping it would slay the beast. knowing it can only ever remain dormant inside her never truly gone as she wishes it to be.

[Jen_Jen]

My Dad was a miner in Canada and he would tell us about how Wolverines would create havoc coming into their camp at night, destroying everything around, and leaving a huge mess... with no apparent purpose other than to destroy... there was no gain (food) to be had. Their latin genus/species name (Gulo) means "Glutton". They are solitary animals and have a reputation for "ferocity and strength out of proportion to it's size". I have always thought of my depression as a Wolverine. Gluttonous, destructive, ferocious, leaving chaos in it's wake. 

Hi everyone by the way. I've signed up here mainly to try to make sense of what is going on with me by reading about the experiences of others I guess. I skipped the "intro" sorry. Answering a question feels less "self-indulgent" than "talking about myself" in a general sense.

So that was it... my first forum post anywhere... ever.