Clarissa: Living with Depression

Can you describe what living with depression or dysthymia feels like on a daily basis? 

Living with depression is a bit like riding a wave you can’t control. Some mornings I wake up feeling hopeful and energized—ready to take on whatever comes my way. Other days, it’s like there’s a weight on my chest. I wake up already feeling off, uncertain of myself, and even the simplest tasks—like getting out of bed—can feel monumental.

What are some common triggers or situations that you’ve noticed worsen your symptoms? 

One notable trigger for me is the topic of suicide. Even though I’ve grown emotionally and learned how to compartmentalize my feelings, being required to go through suicide prevention training for work can bring those emotions back to the surface. It’s not always predictable, but certain conversations or reminders can re-open wounds I thought had healed.

How do you differentiate between your “baseline” feelings and moments when your condition becomes more intense? 

For me, the key sign is when negative thoughts begin to loop nonstop in my mind. When I spiral into that headspace and can’t pull myself out, that’s when I know I’ve crossed from baseline into something more intense. Panic or anxiety attacks are also clear indicators. It’s not just about feeling down—it’s about losing touch with any sense of self-worth and struggling to quiet that inner critic.

What strategies, habits, tools, and lifestyle choices have been most effective in helping you manage your depression or dysthymia in your personal and school life?

Surrounding myself with friends and people who genuinely care about me has been crucial, especially when I’m in a particularly bad place or feeling tempted to isolate.

Therapy, whether weekly or biweekly, has been a vital lifeline.

Staying focused on progress and taking small steps forward helps me feel like I’m reclaiming control.

Journaling helps me process overwhelming emotions, and breathing exercises ground me when I’m spiraling.

How have family, friends, or colleagues supported you in managing your condition? What advice would you give to loved ones supporting someone who suffers from depression or dysthymia?

I’m not always great at asking for help, which makes the people who consistently check in on me all the more important. Their quiet persistence—even when I say I’m “fine”—has meant everything.

My advice to loved ones is this: don’t give up. Even when someone you care about retreats or seems unresponsive, keep reaching out. Keep inviting them. Keep showing up. Your presence—your willingness to listen without trying to “fix” them—can be more powerful than you realize. It’s the care behind the gesture that matters most.

Have you found any particular forms of therapy, medication, or self-help resources to be especially effective? If so, what made them work for you? 

Therapy has been invaluable, though it’s important to understand that not every therapist will be the right fit. If the connection doesn’t feel right, keep looking. The right therapist can make a world of difference. Journaling has also been incredibly therapeutic. It gives me a safe space to be honest with myself and untangle the thoughts in my head.

In what ways has living with depression or dysthymia impacted your ability to pursue personal, academic, or extracurricular goals?

There have been times when my mental health held me back—from missing parts of games and practices to struggling academically. I’ve had moments of failure, and they were hard. But seeking therapy and embracing self-care strategies have helped me limit how much those struggles affect my life. There will always be difficult days, but the work I put into managing my condition helps me keep moving forward, even if progress isn’t always linear.

How do you maintain your sense of identity or self-worth while living with this condition?

Maintaining my sense of identity while living with depression has been a journey of learning to separate who I am from what I feel. Depression often tries to convince you that you are broken, unworthy, or a burden—but I’ve worked hard to remind myself that I am more than my darkest thoughts.

I try to anchor myself in the things that bring me joy and purpose—my friendships, my passions, the small victories that prove I’m still growing. My identity isn’t defined by my struggles, but by how I choose to keep showing up despite them.

Have you encountered any misconceptions or stigma about depressive disorders, and how have you responded to them?

Yes—one of the most harmful misconceptions is the belief that mental health disorders are a choice, or that they’re used as an excuse to avoid hard work. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Living with a mental health condition means fighting an invisible battle every single day just to function. People who don’t experience it often struggle to understand, which is why education and empathy are so important. Mental illness doesn’t define who we are—it’s one part of our experience, not the whole story.

Are there any personal strengths or perspectives you’ve developed as a result of living with depression? What have you learned about yourself through this experience? What have you learned about others? 

Living with depression has taught me to withhold judgment. You never know what someone is carrying silently. Everyone is fighting their own battles, and that realization has made me more compassionate and patient. I’ve also learned to be gentler with myself. Healing isn’t a straight line. Some days are harder than others, and that’s okay. What matters is continuing to show up and do the work, even if progress is slow.

What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed with depression or dysthymia or those who experience PMDD or occasional bouts of depression? 

To anyone who is newly diagnosed or struggling: please know it does get better. Not overnight, and not without effort, but it does. Allow yourself to take things one day at a time. You don’t have to fix everything all at once. Lean on your support system. Let people help you. And most importantly, give yourself grace. Bad days will come, but they don’t last forever—and with time, reflection, and support, you’ll start to understand your patterns and learn how to weather them with more strength and less fear.