Depression affects around 6% of adults in America, but exactly what it is and how it affects people is hard to comprehend.
We asked people on Twitter to share with us what depression was like, in their experience.
Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Take This (@TakeThisOrg) August 18, 2014
The responses we received were extraordinary in both their volume and candor.
Here, from the followers of @TakeThisOrg on Twitter, is what “#DepressionIs”:
Not a weakness. “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Bryant Francis (@RBryant2012) August 18, 2014
@TakeThisOrg The hope that the best you can do in life is to be ignored, and that you won't make anything worse.
— Andrew Testerman (@iamaparade) August 18, 2014
Crippling. RT “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Ms. Grayson (@DjPunchnTag) August 18, 2014
A liar. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— James B. Jones (@TheJamesBJones) August 18, 2014
difficult sometimes, but we can push through! RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis"
— Draug (@Draug419) August 18, 2014
Not an excuse. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis"
— Chris Pranger (@TheChrisPranger) August 18, 2014
The biggest, hardest, but most rewarding boss fight of my life @TakeThisOrg Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— John Ryan (@John_J_Ryan) August 18, 2014
"making a daily saving throw to get out of bed." RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Kythera of Anevern (@Kythera) August 18, 2014
Like being forced to live inside an old "funhouse" filled with sad, distorted mirrors. @TakeThisOrg #depressionis
— [Cuban Bee] (@serarrist) August 18, 2014
"@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis" Part of who I am, but not what defines me.
— Rob Cotton (@Rob_Cotton) August 18, 2014
A voice in the back of your head, nitpicking every second RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Io Otter (@Io_Otter) August 18, 2014
A mountain, but mountains can be climbed. “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Robert Rath (@RobWritesPulp) August 18, 2014
coming between me and the people I care about. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Ken Gagne (@gamebits) August 19, 2014
Depression is a chemical imbalance that you can recover from with time, help, and sometimes medication. @TakeThisOrg #depressionis
— Tiffany (@kweenie) August 19, 2014
drawing a bum starting hand from your deck, but not defining you. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. #depressionis
— A Paolo 13 (@paolo) August 19, 2014
That having an answer might cripple chances at employment RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— jenn frank (@jennatar) August 19, 2014
Making everyone around you happy except yourself. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Maxwell Roahrig (@mroahrig) August 19, 2014
When every word and action, starting with getting out of bed, takes twice the effort. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. #depressionis
— Jill Scharr (@JillScharr) August 19, 2014
when the only feeling you can muster is fear that you can't feel anything else. RT @TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. #depressionis
— Jill Scharr (@JillScharr) August 19, 2014
feeling like you don’t deserve your happiness. “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Ashley Esqueda (@AshleyEsqueda) August 19, 2014
#Depressionis a thief that steals away good thoughts, good times and good people. Our job is to stand watch. @TakeThisOrg
— Ult Account (@Joshubuh) August 19, 2014
#DepressionIs not knowing if something wrong with you because other people act like depression is fake or just whining. @TakeThisOrg
— John-Charles Holmes (@Sonic9jct) August 19, 2014
#depressionis real, normal and prevalent. It's exhausting, a great liar, my worst enemy, the monster under my bed. @TakeThisOrg
— Racheal Caswell (@rachealc) August 19, 2014
#depressionis a liar and the thief of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction. @TakeThisOrg
— CassidE3 Moser (@CassideeMoser) August 19, 2014
#depressionis a liar and the thief of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction. @TakeThisOrg
— CassidE3 Moser (@CassideeMoser) August 19, 2014
#depressionis something we, as a society, must collectively address to make sure people around us know they can count on us @TakeThisOrg
— Stephane 2016edition (@StephaneWithAnE) August 19, 2014
#Depressionis knowing you can complete something and succeed but having no will to do it (and feeling worse cuz you didn't) @TakeThisOrg
— Gamers Plane (@GamersPlane) August 19, 2014
#DepressionIs constantly wondering if what you think and feel is “normal”, “real”, or another symptom. HT @TakeThisOrg
— Leilah (@leilah) August 20, 2014
Tiring! “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Koko (@kokoronis) August 18, 2014
A curse, and an inescapable part of my identity "@TakeThisOrg Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis"
— Daniel (@tegularius00) August 18, 2014
A motherfucker. “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Trent Polack (@mittense) August 18, 2014
@RBryant2012 @TakeThisOrg #depressionis a misleading name for a serious mental illness.
— SpiderwebBubblegum (@Mosleyshores) August 18, 2014
not stopping me. “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Vic『 勝利 』 (@BigFluff) August 18, 2014
@TakeThisOrg Depression is not always a battle you have the energy to fight, but it's our common enemy and can be overpowered.
— Sam Johnston (@JamSohnston) August 18, 2014
A mountain. "@TakeThisOrg Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis" http://t.co/BBxDkeZIp8
— Horza Edeo (@HorzaEdeo) August 18, 2014
Omnipresent RT @TakeThisOrg Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Max 'Sharkfists' Loy (@DoktorLoy) August 18, 2014
@TakeThisOrg @SusanArendt A bully.
— Tilly (@TillyWoden) August 18, 2014
Not necessarily the same for me as it is for you. “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Joe Kafchinski (@WastelandHound) August 18, 2014
@TakeThisOrg @SusanArendt an uphill battle.
— Gil Almogi (@gilmeansjoy) August 18, 2014
@TakeThisOrg Not the end of your life's story.
— Kelly Hoover (@kellyhoover27) August 18, 2014
A disease that took friends while I stood seemingly helpless. @TakeThisOrg Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Douglas Park (@DocMcBruce) August 18, 2014
Insidious, but not invincible “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Logan Westbrook (@LoganWestbrook) August 19, 2014
@TakeThisOrg is never going to stop me!
— Steven Oz (@MXAGhost) August 19, 2014
Your own personal Goliath “@TakeThisOrg: Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis”
— Apathy Syndrome (@Mr_Yahtzee) August 19, 2014
@TakeThisOrg @AshleyEsqueda Normal and treatable.
— Alex Kunzelmann (@alexkunzelmann) August 19, 2014
Like an End Boss, seems overwhelmin at first but it's beatable “@TakeThisOrg:Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Matty (@ohlookitsMatty) August 19, 2014
like someone took your wings. @TakeThisOrg Depression is _____. (Fill in the blank, and RT!) #depressionis
— Lily Fox (@lilylayer4) August 19, 2014
@TakeThisOrg #DepressionIs walking around in a Pokémon cave and always running into Zubats.
— Steven Oz (@MXAGhost) August 19, 2014
@TakeThisOrg Depression is: more common than you'd think–you are not alone. #depressionis
— Alan Au (@Alan_Au) August 18, 2014
