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?

[Crystal-Rose]

I'd have to say a Black Widow Spider.

They sometimes eat mice, lizards, and snakes when they get caught in the web. Black Widows are “specialist” feeders.
When a Black Widow spider bites, the venom subdues the prey, just like it feels like when depression sets in and you're body is totally numb and you're not able to focus.

[Simona]

Stephen King's Cujo.  During the early onset of rabies when he is hiding under the house whimpering/growling from the noise. 

or

Pyramid Head from the movie Silent Hill. Dragging that big knife thingy around.  Me? I drag the Dyson DC39.

[Lilmama2]

A germ, making me sick.

[Macka90]

I would say my depression is like a shark doesn't stop attacking.

[Qualm]

I was down in the dumps and started thinking about this today. An octopus-like creature definitely comes to mind and it seems to be a recurring theme in this thread (give me a black dog any day).

Far more horrible than an octopus, really - it's more like some disgusting black slimy tentacled creature, somewhere between an octopus and a jellyfish, which sits on my head and entwines its appendages around me, refusing to let go. It weighs me down and sucks out my happiness, regurgitating its depressive, poisonous, inky bile into my brain, which then overflows and saturates my entire body.

[Aelet]

I only have mild depression but if i were to imagine it as a creature, it would probably be something easily deceivable, I'm imagining a black butterfly but when it lands on you it has these needle sharp feet that poke into you as it walks all over your body. and i imagine that with each step it injects black liquid into your blood stream until your whole body is functioning on just this black liquid-like melted tar.  

[mercymaybe]

I think, rather then an animal it would be fog.

cold cold fog, so dense you can't see anything other then the clouds, all sounds distorted and echoing.

entirly isolating and alone and when I look down at my own body I don't recognise it through the cover of the fog 

[Pontius]

My depression could not be living, so maybe not a creature. 

I think my depression would be a giant pile of feathers that cling to you and try to smother you and surround you so that you can feel nothing.

[Kirt181]

I agree that it feels like a squid or octopus. Able to get to me even if I hide in the smallest places. I was just thinking that when I saw your post. Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one who thinks this way.