Depression feels like.....

[TashK]

I wanted to know how depression feels for other people, like if it feels like constant doubts and sadness or something like you feel really guilty and alone. I thought it would be good for others to share how it feels and maybe to relate with other people.

To start off for me depression feels like a constant weight inside of me, it doesn't feel overwhelming it just is there pushing me down. It also feels like I've got no energy at all, my energy is so low and all i want to do is sleep but i cant even do that because my thoughts just keep me awake. That's half of what depression feels like for me so yeah! Just say what you feel and hopefully it helps someone x

[LisaT]

When my depression was really bad I felt like I was drowning in a sea of darkness. The darkest thoughts would wash over me out of the blue and I had to keep telling myself that I was sick. Now I just feel flat no real motivation.

[white knight]

Hi TashK

There are different depressions out there to my knowledge. Dysthymia, one of my illnesses, has had me for decades feeling sadness, deep deep sadness to the extent of writing sad poetry. So sad the poetry is that often people cry reading it. But as my medication has taken hold really well, the less I can write, almost to a stop now.

Then there is base depression that I have. I dont sleep a lot when depressed but my wife does and she has depression?? I get the feeling of hopelessness. As if the world throws too many obstacles at you, bills, conflict with others, bullying, too little jail time for sex predators, cruelty to animals etc.I just cant handle it. Yet, I'm thankful for some abilities like my ability to communicate- eg this forum. To put into words my experience and advice etc.

Finally there is mood. Likely from my bipolar type 2. Controlled also by medication I believe this illness battles against the others for supremicy,

So I'm a mixed bag. But I have licked anxiety totally and I have got the ideal medication for my other woes. So my symptoms are far less, but still come and go depending on circumstances. Just cant write poetry much any more.

Tony WK

[SaraJ]

Tash, sounds not dissimilar to you,

It can depend but I usually feel like there's a sadness or pain embedded deep down, eating away, that is usually there to a variable degree from as a bit of a vague nagging feeling through to an almost physical pain that radiates. Sometimes it almost seems like it's so strong, thatn it seems as if people nearby should be able to feel it. Like there's something wrong, broken or scarred deep down in your core being. A nagging feeling that there may not be a right answer, a way to "fix" things and make it all ok. That maybe there's something fundamently wrong with you, or maybe things are happening because it's your all fault somehow and you'll just have to deal with this feeling from now on. It saps you of energy, makes you more irritable, you loose motivation to do things you previously enjoyed.

I  find I procrastinate more, I second guess myself more and am less sure of what to do. (Which is bad because you know you need to make a decision and act to improve the situation but can't decide what is the best thing to do). I get sick more often and strangely enough, even physical injuries pop up more commonly which are very real and I suspect have been contributed to by fatigue and chroinic stress. You feel like others around you wouldn't understand and or are probably un-interested and don't want to know. I often end up wanting to be alone in a quiet space often, but at the same time it leaves you feeling quite isolated.

[lost_helpless]

it feel to me just down dark and heavy..
constantly staring out the window, waiting on time to pass you by
unmotivated tasks, with the brief feeling of excitement with a burst energy. only to be back to starting out the window 

[Rosie_W]

To me it feels a little different.

It feels as though someone else has taken control of my brain. They are telling me that I am worthless, there is no point to life, everything is pointless. There is no reason to continue with anything. And then I start believing this little person. The words keep going through my head and they are like a black hole ready to consume me. It feels as though all the happiness has been taken out of the world, that there is nothing good and there is no light. 

And then everything becomes a struggle. So I stop eating, I stop walking around. I sit there mindlessly staring at the TV screen. There are many things I want to achieve in life, but they all seem impossible, so I hide from the world and have no desire to speak or be near anyone else. That is what depression is like for me.