Living With Depression

Monday, April 13, 2026

When most people think of depression they think of lying in bed all day wallowing in sorrow and misery. While that is a part of it, that’s not the only side to living with depression. Depression comes in many forms and in many waves of magnitude. Having lived with depression for most of my adult life, I figured I could pull back the curtain and share a little about what it’s like to live with depression.

To start, depression isn’t a constant. It’s not always looming over you slapping away things that can bring you joy. I have always equated having depression to standing on a beach letting the waves hit your feet. Some moments the waters are retracted and you’re able to function like a normal human being. Some moments, the waves have engulfed your feet, causing you to struggle with even the most basic of tasks.

And the frustrating part is you can’t control when the waves hit you. I have vivid memories of being in social situations having a good time, and all of the sudden a wave crashes into me and I’m stuck feeling isolated and paralyzed. Living like this for so long I’ve learned to mask these waves, but I’m still not perfect at it.

Having lived with depression I’ve found some ways to pull myself out of the waves. When they hit, I know that I need to be productive of some sort. Working on hobbies, cleaning, anything to keep myself busy. I’ve also found that reaching out to friends and close acquaintances is a good way to vent out my feelings and subside the waves. Not every wave is hard to get out of, but there are some that are doozies that I make sure to do all I can to get out of it.

Living with depression hasn’t made for an easy life, but it’s something I’ve learned to live with. A good friend of mine once told me, “Your depression may be giving directions, but your hands are the ones on the wheel.” It may hurt me and make tasks difficult, but I’m still in control of my life and where it goes.

Jacob