50 Helpful Quotes About Depression

Depression can be an incredibly difficult and lonely experience. It often involves feeling disconnected from the world around us, like we don’t belong or that no one truly understands how we’re feeling. Quotes about depression, however, can provide a powerful source of comfort and understanding. They help remind us that even though we may feel isolated in our own struggles, others have gone through the same experiences and can relate.

Quotes about depression provide an opportunity to express our feelings in a way that helps us feel connected and understood. They can offer words of comfort, hope, and strength—providing assurance that we are not alone. Quotes can also help shift our perspective on difficult situations, enabling us to approach them with a fresh outlook. It’s important to remember that even in our darkest moments, there are people who can support us through these challenging times, and quotes about depression can help us recognize this.

For some of us, quotes about depression can be a powerful tool in helping us overcome our struggles. They have the ability to speak right into our souls, offering reassurance of comfort and understanding. So, next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of depression, take a moment to read some encouraging words and know that you are not alone.

50 Helpful Quotes About Depression

These 50 different quotes for people with depression won’t instantly solve all of your problems, but they can bring you comfort in knowing that there are other people out there who understand and empathize with what you are feeling.

Always remember that you don’t have to struggle alone. Read on to discover 50 helpful quotes about depression.

Short quotes about depression

1. “Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is.” – Atticus

2. “Depression is melancholy minus its charms.” – Susan Sontag

3. “A big part of depression is feeling really lonely, even if you’re in a room full of a million people.” – Lilly Singh

4. “Depression doesn’t take away your talents—it just makes them harder to find.” – Lady Gaga

5. “Depression isn’t a war you win. It’s a battle you fight every day.” – Shaun David Hutchinson

6. “Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.” – Khalil Gibran

7. “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” – John Green

8. “When people don’t know exactly what depression is, they can be judgemental.” – Marion Cotillard

9. “What we don’t need in the midst of struggle is shame for being human.” – Brene Brown

10. “Depression, suffering, and anger are all part of being human.” – Janet Fitch

Powerful quotes about depression

11. “The hardest thing about depression is that it is addictive. It begins to feel uncomfortable not to be depressed. You feel guilty for feeling happy.” – Pete Wentz

12. “It’s so difficult to describe depression to someone who’s never been there because it’s not sadness. I know sadness. Sadness is to cry and to feel. But it’s that cold absence of feeling—that really hollowed-out feeling.” – J.K. Rowling

13. “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. The fog is like a cage without a key.” – Elizabeth Wurtzel

14. “It is very hard to explain to people who have never known serious depression or anxiety the sheer continuous intensity of it. There is no off switch.” – Matt Haig

15. “You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” – Jonathan Safran Foer

16. “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

17. “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu

18. “Remember the times you could have pressed quit – but you hit continue.” – Shane Koyczan

19. “Everything that drowned me taught me how to swim.” – Jenim Dibie

20. “When you’re surrounded by all these people, it can be lonelier than when you’re by yourself. You can be in a huge crowd, but if you don’t feel like you can trust anyone or talk to anybody, you feel like you’re really alone.” – Fiona Apple

Deep quotes about depression

21. “Depression is your body saying, ‘I don’t want to be this character anymore. It’s too much for me.’ You should think of the word ‘depressed’ as ‘deep rest.’ Your body needs to be depressed. It needs deep rest from the character that you’ve been trying to play.” – Jim Carrey

22. “You are the one thing in this world, above all other things, that you must never give up on…Asking for help is the first step. You are more precious to this world than you’ll ever know.” – Lili Reinhart

23. “Depression presents itself as a realism regarding the rottenness of the world in general and the rottenness of your life in particular. But the realism is merely a mask for depression’s actual essence, which is an overwhelming estrangement from humanity.” – Jonathan Franzen

24. “There is some kind of a sweet innocence in being human—in not having to be just happy or just sad—in the nature of being able to be both broken and whole, at the same time.” – C. Joybell C.

25. “There is no point treating a depressed person as though she were just feeling sad, saying, ‘There now, hang on, you’ll get over it.’ Sadness is more or less like a head cold—with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer.” – Barbara Kingsolver

26. “Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more time. You’re doing just fine.” – Charlotte Eriksson

27. “Because that’s the thing about depression. When I feel it deeply, I don’t want to let it go. It becomes a comfort. I want to cloak myself under its heavy weight and breathe it into my lungs. I want to nurture it, grow it, cultivate it. It’s mine. I want to check out with it, drift asleep wrapped in its arms, and not wake up for a long, long time.” – Stephanie Perkins

28. “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

29. “I didn’t want my picture taken because I was going to cry. I didn’t know why I was going to cry, but I knew that if anybody spoke to me or looked at me too closely, the tears would fly out of my eyes and the sobs would fly out of my throat, and I’d cry for a week. I could feel the tears brimming and sloshing in me like water in a glass that is unsteady and too full.” – Sylvia Plath

30. “Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.” – Jasmine Warga

Inspirational quotes about depression

31. “Keep searching for the colors when everything turns grey.” – Christy Ann Martine

32. “I won’t let my pain turn my heart into something ugly. I will show you that surviving can be beautiful.” – Christy Ann Martine

33. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced” – James Baldwin

34. “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller

35. “In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus

36. “It’s my mission to share this with the world and to let them know that there is life on the other side of those dark times that seem so hopeless and helpless. I want to show the world that there is life—surprising, wonderful and unexpected life after diagnosis.” – Demi Lovato

37. “It is okay to have depression, it is okay to have anxiety, and it is okay to have an adjustment disorder. We need to improve the conversation. We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health.” – Prince Harry

38. “Getting better from depression demands a lifelong commitment. I’ve made that commitment for my life’s sake and for the sake of those who love me.” – Susan Polis Schutz

39. “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

40. “In the darkest time, I have always believed, the light will shine.” – Laila Akita

Helpful quotes about depression

41. “If you know someone who’s depressed, please resolve to never ask why. Depression isn’t a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather.” – Stephen Fry

42. “I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.” – Dwayne Johnson

43. “People who have never dealt with depression think it’s just being sad or being in a bad mood. That’s not what depression is for me; it’s falling into a state of grayness and numbness.” – Dan Reynolds in Imagine Dragons

44. “I understand your pain. Trust me, I do. I’ve seen people go from the darkest moments in their lives to living a happy, fulfilling life. You can do it too. I believe in you. You are not a burden. You will NEVER BE a burden.” – Sophie Turner

45. “Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success or their place on the food chain. In fact, there is a good chance you know someone who is struggling with it since nearly 20 percent of American adults face some form of mental illness in their lifetime. So why aren’t we talking about it?” – Kristen Bell

46. “Anyone who has actually been that sad can tell you that there’s nothing beautiful or literary or mysterious about depression.” – Jasmine Warga

47. “I had everything I needed to be happy. And yet, for much of the last year, I felt unhappy. I started taking an antidepressant, which helped and I started sharing the news with friends and family—I felt like everyone deserved an explanation, and I didn’t know how else to say it other than the only way I know: just saying it. It got easier and easier to say it aloud every time.” – Chrissy Teigen

48. “Whether an illness affects your heart, your arm, or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there shouldn’t be any distinction. We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We don’t consider taking medication for an ear infection something to be ashamed of. We shouldn’t treat mental health conditions any differently. Instead, we should make it clear that getting help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of strength—and we should ensure that people can get the treatment they need.” – Michelle Obama

49. “You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.” – Dan Millman

50. “Listen to the people who love you. Believe that they are worth living for even when you don’t believe it. 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

What to do if you or someone you love is suffering from depression

If you or someone you love is suffering from depression, it’s important to seek help from a qualified medical professional. Speak to your doctor or a mental health specialist who can provide advice on the best course of treatment. There are also several support groups and online communities available that offer guidance and understanding from those who have been through similar experiences.

It’s also important to make sure that the person is surrounded by a supportive network of family and friends. A safe environment, free from criticism or judgment, can be a valuable source of comfort during difficult times.

Most importantly, it’s essential to show compassion and understanding toward those affected by depression. Encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling and reassure them that their feelings are valid. Offer words of comfort and hope. Let them know that they are not alone and that there is help available to get through this difficult time. Together, we can create a world where no one has to suffer in silence or feel ashamed of their mental health struggles.

Whatever journey you or your loved one are embarking on, remember to stay hopeful. There will be brighter days that lie ahead. The road to recovery may be challenging, but you don’t have to travel it alone. Reach out and connect with others who can understand your struggles and ask for support when needed. With the help of a caring community and dedicated professionals, you or your loved one can find the strength to overcome this challenge. So don’t give up – you can get through this.

Final thoughts on quotes about depression

These quotes are, by no means, the only way to help yourself, and we encourage you to reach out for help from loved ones or from professionals. Getting outside in nature, prioritizing rest, eating well, and different forms of therapy can all be excellent ways to combat periods of depression. Hopefully, with the help of these quotes about depression, you can start to take steps to help manage this challenging period of your life.

At So Syncd, we believe in the power of self-awareness. If you can get to know yourself, then you can attract people who will love you for who you are. So, take time to reflect on who you are at your core and what’s important to you. A great place to start is to take our free 5-minute personality test to learn your personality type and share the test with your partner and friends to learn more about them too.

If you found these quotes about depression helpful, you might also want to check out 50 Helpful Quotes For People With Anxiety or 7 Signs of Being Emotionally Detached.