The term depression is often linked to sadness. But a Twitter hashtag, trending worlwide today, emphasised that sadness is only a small snippet of what depression actually looks like. The hashtag #MyDepressionLooksLike picked up steam after Twitter user @SheSeauxSaditty encouraged other users to share their perspective of depression.

#MyDepressionLooksLike - Tweeps used the hashtag to break down the characteristics of depression from both the inside and outside. Many said that depression isn’t always visual.


@SheSeauxSaditty: “If you suffer from depression, you are not alone. If up to it, post a pic with #MyDepressionLooksLike. It looks different for everyone.”


@kittenwithawhip: “#MyDepressionLooksLike my regular self. I’ve been at it so long, I’ve got game face. And If you see my face, I’ve made it out of the house.”

@Love_Amethyst_: “#MyDepressionLooksLike I’m fine and cracking jokes with you all day only to lay in the dark and cry all night.”

@daydreamxway: “#myanxietylookslike panic attacks at 1am #mydepressionlookslike me not asking for help bc I’m sure I deserve to feel awful”

@teadrinkininja: “#MyDepressionLooksLike never knowing when I’ll be okay and when it’ll be completely debilitating.”

@Twohungrymen: “@wanderluceblog #mydepressionlookslike standing at the bottom of a well looking up with no ladder to get out.”

@gilbogaggins: “#MyDepressionLooksLike me writing a senior honours thesis bc if I stop doing work I start thinking again, and I spiral.”

@RoseCheyanns: “#mydepressionlookslike feeling broken because everyone else around me has their life together & figured out, but I’m no where near that...”

@TVsStevePatrick: “#mydepressionlookslike exhausted shame that I can’t “just make the decision that I’m going to be happy.”

@strangefervor: “#MyDepressionLooksLike unfinished notebooks, missing the bus to school and blaming myself, hoarding essentials out of fear that I’ll need it.”

@IreneTrisqui: “#mydepressionlookslike a fight between my brain and I, for not to have negative thoughts.”

@whatifyoudont: “#mydepressionlookslike pushing away the people who love me because I don’t want to burden them with my problems.”

@noturgrrrrl: “#mydepressionlookslike”

#fightdepression - Many tweeps sympathised with people suffering from depression and anxiety and shared motivating messages.

@eljoyfb: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always. #fightdepression”

@Les4Rih: “This is me. (LozzaRayzer11 old user) #FightAnxiety #FightDepression”

@DevKjar: “Have been having a lot of really great thoughts the past few hours ߘ?Determined to keep this positive attitude. #FightDepression”


@SemelhR5: “Draw a semicolon on your hand to show your respect to those who need it. #Semicolon #fightdepression #endsuicide.”


@stefmd13: “Depression is my worst enemy. The fight is real. #fightdepression #standstrong #WednesdayWisdom”


Christine Glenna Kendrick: “... #mydepressionlookslike aches and pains all over my body, feeling like I have the flu. #mydepressionlookslike not being able to maintain any semblance of friendship bc I am too tired to socialize. #mydepressionlookslike my boyfriend’s dark undereye circles matching my own, as he stays up all night trying to comfort me. #mydepressionlookslike the scars on my body that no one will see except my doctor and my boyfriend. #mydepressionlookslike 72 hour holds in jail-like facilities. #mydepressionlookslike wild, frizzy hair, chocolate stains on my collarbone and fingers, a smell that even I notice. #mydepressionlookslike my messy house, my messy life, my lack of a college degree, my bad skin, my lumpy body, my life.

Depression looks a lot worse than the sadness and fatigue you hear about. Don’t confuse daily stress and temporary sadness with clinical depression. The disease is hard enough to live with, without the stigma of people thinking its all in our heads bc so many people are misdiagnosed. There’s a difference between being in a rut, and needing to be medicated for depressive episodes.”