Depression can be a lonely experience, but there is strength in community. Sometimes, just knowing that someone else knows how we’re feeling can help.

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 264 million people around the world live with the condition. Still, it’s easy to feel alone and isolated when you have depression.

Although it might not sound like a helpful activity, reading quotes about depression could help you remember that you’re not alone.

Not all of these depression quotes will ring true for you, as everyone experiences depression differently. However, they might help you understand your feelings better: Sometimes, reading about another person’s experience helps us understand our own.

If you’re experiencing depression, it might feel impossible to describe or even acknowledge your feelings, much less explain them to others. These quotes describe some people’s experiences of depression.

“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, “The Problem of Pain”

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“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”

― Laurell K. Hamilton, “Mistral’s Kiss”

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“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.”

― Elizabeth Wurtzel, “Prozac Nation”

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“I don’t want to see anyone. I lie in the bedroom with the curtains drawn and nothingness washing over me like a sluggish wave.”

― Margaret Atwood, “Cat’s Eye”

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“The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can’t get away from it. Not ever.”

― Nina LaCour, “Hold Still”

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“Depression is the inability to construct a future.”

― Rollo May, “Love and Will”

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“I saw the world in black and white instead of the vibrant colours and shades I knew existed.”

― Katie McGarry, “Pushing the Limits”

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“Depression isn’t a war you win. It’s a battle you fight every day. You never stop, never get to rest. It’s one bloody fray after another.”

― Shaun David Hutchinson, “We Are the Ants”

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The following quotes about dealing with depression might inspire you to keep going when it feels overwhelming.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”

― Amit Ray

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“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, “The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression”

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“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. You’re doing just fine. You’re doing fine. I’m doing just fine.”

― Charlotte Eriksson, “You’re Doing Just Fine”

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

― Stephen Fry

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“Maybe it’s not about having a beautiful day, but about finding beautiful moments. Maybe a whole day is just too much to ask. I could choose to believe that in every day, in all things, no matter how dark and ugly, there are shards of beauty if I look for them.”

― Anna White, “Mended: Thoughts on Life, Love, and Leaps of Faith”

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Although depression often feels unending, it can be managed. Here are some hopeful quotes about depression that might comfort you.

“I will be stronger than my sadness.”

― Jasmine Warga, “My Heart and Other Black Holes”

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“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.”

― Robert Frost

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

― John Green

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“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”

― Thich Nhat Hanh

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“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”

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“You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care nor your nights without a want and a grief, but rather when these things girdle your life and yet you rise above them naked and unbound.”

— Khalil Gibran

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Depression can be treated. Many people who have depression manage their symptoms effectively.

There are many ways to treat depression. If you are experiencing depression, or if you think you might be, consider talk therapy (also called psychotherapy). This involves talking with a qualified professional.

In some cases, a medical practitioner might prescribe antidepressant medication. However, this isn’t the case for everyone.

Also, self-care strategies might help you manage the symptoms of depression. Finding emotional outlets such as exercise, journaling, or a creative hobby can be useful. Surrounding yourself with a network of supportive loved ones can also help.

If you need immediate help, there are some resources available to you now. Try the following options:

Recovery is possible. Depression can feel neverending and all-consuming, and you might feel as if you’ll never get better. This isn’t necessarily true. Many people manage depression, and you can be one of them.