Depression is a disease of loneliness. We crave human touch. We crave listening ears and words of advice. But no matter how much we receive, it is never enough. We constantly feel isolated and alone. Sure, we are supported. But we are not understood. That is the missing puzzle piece that provides a strong sense of loneliness.
At the end of the day what we really want is to be understood.
Because the way we think and feel cannot be understood by others we feel completely isolated. We feel stuck and helpless. We feel as though we have nowhere to turn. We are left to cope on our own and figure things out for ourselves. We crave for others to understand what we are going through.
However, we cannot force people to understand. We can only allow them to support us. We must respect that depression is a concept that most will never understand unless they experience it for themselves. When we accept the lack of understanding with the knowledge that there is no one at fault; that is just is, then the loneliness we experience will slowly but surely escape us. We will be one step closer to recovery.
What we can ask people to do is help us remember the things that we would miss - the reasons we should stay alive.
1. The salty smell and calming sound of the beach
2. You would hurt a lot people that love you more than life itself
3. Hot chocolate on cold winter days
4. Your moms smile
5. Your best friends laugh
6. Your little cousins, nieces, and nephews that look up to you
7. The feeling of the sun against your face
8. Hearing the words “I love you”
9. Not being able to sleep/the feeling you get the night before a holiday
10. Birthdays
11. Quiet late night drives
12. Missed opportunities and adventures
13. The feeling of lying in bed after a long day
14. Long hot showers
15. Music that you connect with
16. You have a purpose
17. You can change somebody’s life
18. Snowball fights
19. Concerts
20. Watching people fall
21. As long as you heart is beating, there is hope
22. You will regret dying
23. What if Heaven isn’t real?
24. Marriage
25. You are enough
26. Pain is only temporary
27. Late night food runs with your friends
28. The sound of rain
29. Reading powerful quotes
30. Eating your favorite foods
31. Stars
32. Good movies
33. Having children
34. Staring at clouds and finding pictures within them
35. Meeting new people
36. Your struggle will make you stronger
37. You have a lot of people that love and support you
38. Being able to say, “I made it”
39. Genuine smiles
40. Bonfires
41. You matter
42. Time heals most wounds
43. Your first apartment/house
44. The crunch of leaves in the fall
45. Finding your soul mate
46. Meaningful hugs
47. Being in/attending someone’s wedding
48. You are worth it
49. Sunday night football
50. The smell of Christmas trees
51. People care about you; lots of them in fact
52. Sunsets
53. Ice cream
54. You are brave
55. Things really do get better
56. Dogs
57. Cats
58. Pets in general
59. Rainbows
60. You are amazing
61. The city
62. Traveling
63. Vacations
64. Road trips
65. Hearing awesome stories
66. Inside jokes
67. Coffee
68. Snowmen
69. Your talents
70. You’ll disappoint the people that love you by letting your illness win
71. The feeling of pure joy/happiness
72. You will be happy one day
73. All-nighters with your friends
74. Cuddling
75. Reunions with your friends/high school/college
76. Re-connecting with someone you haven’t talked to in years
77. Smiling
78. Seeing someone else smile
79. You are beautiful
80. Decorating you house/apartment
81. Capturing perfect moments on camera
82. You would be missed
83. Quiet bookstores/small restaurants
84. Your favorite hobby
85. Swimming on a hot day
86. Being cozied up with blankets
87. Feeling refreshed after a nice nap
88. Helping other people
89. Watching the people you love become successful
90. Becoming successful yourself
91. Babies/little kids
92. Cute old people
93. Love stories
94. You are strong
95. You will be proud that you continued to live
96. The feeling of grass under your feet
97. Telling crazy stories
98. The smell of rain
99. Watching lightning
100. YOU ARE LOVED
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