155 Inspiring Quotes For Overcoming Depression
As someone who has struggled with depression, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find motivation and hope on the darkest days. In our collection, we have selected a number of inspirational quotes for people with depression to give them hope, strength and a balanced life.
That's why I've turned to inspiring quotes to help me through those tough times.
Quotes have a way of speaking to us on a deep level, reaching places in our hearts and minds that we may not be able to access on our own.
Depression can make us feel like we're trapped in a dark hole with no way out.
We may feel like we're alone in our struggles and that there's no hope for the future. But the truth is, we're not alone, and there is hope.
Sometimes all it takes is a few words of encouragement to help us see that light at the end of the tunnel.
That's where inspiring quotes come in.
Whether they come from famous writers, philosophers, or even just our friends and family, quotes can offer a glimmer of hope when we need it most.
They can provide us with the motivation to keep going, to keep fighting, even when it feels like everything is against us.
One of the things I love most about quotes is how they can be applied to so many different situations.
A quote that speaks to me when I'm feeling down might not have the same effect on someone else, and that's okay.
Quotes are personal, and they can mean different things to different people depending on whether they’re looking to improve their mental health, focus on mindfulness or even improve relationships with others.
When it comes to finding inspiring quotes for depression, it's important to look for ones that resonate with you on a deep level.
This might mean searching for quotes that address specific issues you're dealing with, such as loneliness or feelings of worthlessness.
Or, it might mean finding quotes that speak to your personal values and beliefs.
In this article, I'll be sharing some of my favorite inspiring quotes for depression.
These are quotes that have helped me through some of my darkest moments, and I hope they can do the same for you.
Whether you're dealing with depression yourself or you know someone who is, these quotes can provide a source of comfort and hope.
So sit back, take a deep breath, and let these words of wisdom help guide you through the darkness.
42 Encouraging Quotes For People With Depression
1. “Truly, it is in the darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us.” - Meister Eckhart
2. “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” - Alan Cohen
3. “When people don’t know exactly what depression is, they can be judgmental.” - Marion Cotillard
4. “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” - Helen Keller
5. “You don’t have to live a lie. Living a lie will mess you up. It will send you into depression. It will warp your values.” - Gilbert Baker
6. “It is never too late to live happily ever after.” - Anonymous
7. “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” - Helen Keller
8. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
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9. “The power is in you. The answer is in you. And you are the answer to all your searches: you are the goal. You are the answer. It’s never outside.” - Eckhart Tolle
10. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” - Author Unknown
11. “Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.” - Jasmine Warga
12. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising up every time we fail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
13. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” - Henry Ford
14. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
15. “It is often in the darkest skies that we see the brightest stars.” - Richard Evans
16. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt
17. “No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.” - George Chakiris
18. “I saw the world in black and white instead of the vibrant colours and shades I knew existed.” - Katie McGarry
19. “You say you’re ‘depressed’ – all I see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn’t mean you’re defective – it just means you’re human.” - David Mitchell
20. “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” - Helen Keller
21. “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” - African Proverb
22. “The pupil dilates in darkness and in the end finds light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds God.” - Victor Hugo
23. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” - John Wooden
24. “You become what you think about.” - Earl Nightingale
25. “So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains and we never even know we have the key.” - The Eagles
26. “Don’t be afraid if things seem difficult in the beginning. That’s only the initial impression. The important thing is not to retreat; you have to master yourself.” - Olga Korbut
27. “Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.” - Aldous Huxley
28. “You become what you think about.” - Earl Nightingale
29. “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
30. “We will find only what we look for, nothing more and nothing less.” - Anonymous
31. “Positive thoughts and prayer have been the best means available, since the beginning of time, to transform darkness to light.” - Cate Stevens
32. “In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” - Albert Camus
33. “A positive attitude gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you.” - Joyce Meyer
34. “Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom.” - Sharon Salzberg
35. “When you adopt a positive mindset, you are harnessing the power of choice.” - Victor Schueller
36. “You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care nor your nights without want and a grief. But rather when these things girdle your life and yet you rise above them naked and unbound.” - Khalil Gibran
37. “The best way out is always through.” - Robert Frost
38. “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” - Lao Tzu
39. “When we calm our mind, our thoughts, our complete being, we create in and around us a beautiful glow of positivity and peace.” - Zeenat Merchant Syal
40. “Depression taught me the importance of compassion and hard work, and that you can overcome enormous obstacles.” - Rob Delaney
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41. “If all you can do is crawl, start crawling.” - Rumi
42. “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
31 Inspirational Mental Health Quotes
43. "You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle." - Julian Seifter
44. "There is no normal life that is free of pain. It's the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth." - Fred Rogers
45. "Deep breathing is our nervous system’s love language." - Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy
46. "Nothing can dim the light that shines from within." - Maya Angelou
47. "Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it isn’t so." - Lemony Snicket
48. "You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are." - Max Lucado
49. "Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves." - Henry David Thoreau
50. "Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone." - Lisa Olivera
51. "Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health." - Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy
52. "Self-care is how you take your power back." - Lalah Delia
53. "Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they're never weakness." - Brené Brown
54. "This feeling will pass. The fear is real but the danger is not." - Cammie McGovern
55. "You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you." - Dan Millman
56. "Mental health…is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going." - Noam Shpancer
57. "You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." - Buddha
58. "Even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there." - Stephen Chbosky
59. "Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain." - Matt Haig
60. "Positive vibes only’ isn’t a thing. Humans have a wide range of emotions and that’s OK." - Molly Bahr
61. "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - Albus Dumbledore
62. "Your mental health is everything – prioritize it. Make the time like your life depends on it, because it does." - Mel Robbins
63. "There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen
64. "Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor." - Thich Nhat Hanh
65. "Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them." - Joubert Botha
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66. "If we start being honest about our pain, our anger, and our shortcomings instead of pretending they don’t exist, then maybe we’ll leave the world a better place than we found it." - Russell Wilson
67. "Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh
68. "There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t." - John Green
69. "What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation." - Glenn Close
70. "We are not our trauma. We are not our brain chemistry. That’s part of who we are, but we’re so much more than that." - Sam J. Miller
71. "It is not the bruises on the body that hurt. It is the wounds of the heart and the scars on the mind." - Aisha Mirza
72. "I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott
73. "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson
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74. “Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” - Christopher Reeve
75. “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” - Michael McMillan
76. “There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you’ve had enough.” - Unknown
77. “One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you cannot change.” - Unknown
78. “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” - C.S. Lewis
79. “As I look back on my life, I realize that every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better.” - Dr. Steve Maraboli
80. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” - Confucius
81. “Owning your story is the bravest thing you’ll ever do.” - Brené Brownn
82. “I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.” - Joshua Graham
83. “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” - Buddha
84. “One has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.” - Paulo Coelho
85. “Never be ashamed of a scar. It means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you.” - Unknown
86. “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” - Les Misérables
87. "Forgive those who insult you, attack you, belittle you or take you for granted. But more than this… forgive yourself for allowing them to hurt you.” - Unknown
88. “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.” - Roy T. Bennett
89. “Until you’re broken you don’t know what you’re made of. It gives you the ability to build yourself all over again, but stronger than ever…” - Melissa Molomo
90. “Every day may not be good, but there is some good in every day.” - Alice Morse Earle
91. “I am thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn’t have come across my strength.” - Alex Elle
92. “Stop focusing on how stressed you are and remember how blessed you are.” - Unknown
93. “The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don’t give up.” - Robert Tew
94. “Respect yourself enough to say ‘I deserve peace‘ and walk away from people or things that prevent you from attaining it.” - Jericho Silvers
95. “Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.” - Buddha
37 Depression Quotes About Love & Relationships
96. “Anxiety is love’s greatest killer. It makes others feel as you might when a drowning man holds on to you. You want to save him, but you know he will strangle you with his panic.” - Anaïs Nin
97. “It’s hard to part the curtains when the dark holds such familiarity.” - Donna Lynn Hope
98. “That’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it’s impossible to ever see the end.” - Elizabeth Wurtzel
99. “It is sad not to love, but it is much sadder not to be able to love." - Miguel de Unamuno
100. "That very deadened feeling, which is so very different from feeling sad. Sad hurts but it’s a healthy feeling. It is a necessary thing to feel. Depression is very different.” - J.K. Rowling
101. “Healing is an inside job.” - Dr. B.J. Palmer
102. “Sometimes all you can do is lie in bed, and hope to fall asleep before you fall apart.” - William C. Hannan
103. “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” - Charles Spurgeon
104. "Sometimes, I don’t know what haunts me more… The memories of you… Or the happy person I used to be.” - Ranata Suzuki
105. “It’s amazing how someone can break your heart and you can still love them with all the little pieces.” - Ella Harper
106. “It’s like being in a glass elevator in the middle of a crowded mall; you see everything and would love to join in, but the door won’t open so you can’t.” - Lisa Moore Sherman
107. “I didn’t want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that’s really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you’re so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.” - Ned Vizzini
108. "Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.” - Jasmine Warga
109. “When you’re surrounded by all these people, it can be lonelier than when you’re by yourself. You can be in a huge crowd, but if you don’t feel like you can trust anyone or talk to anybody, you feel like you’re really alone.” - Fiona Apple
110. “Love is an untamed force. When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused.” - Paulo Coelho
111. “If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” - Amit Ray
112. “How do you know when it’s over? Maybe when you feel more in love with your memories than with the person standing in front of you.” - Gunnar Ardelius
113. "There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” - Laurell K. Hamilton
114. “Pleasure of love lasts but a moment. The pain of love lasts a lifetime.” - Bette Davis
115. "All depression has its roots in self-pity, and all self-pity is rooted in people taking themselves too seriously.” - Tom Robbins
116. “No amount of anxiety can change the future. No amount of regret can change the past.” - Karen Salmansohn
117. “Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t mean it isn’t so.” - Lemony Snicket
118. "Just because I can’t explain the feelings causing my anxiety, doesn’t make them less valid.” - Lauren Elizabeth
119. “Love lies in those unsent drafts in your mailbox. Sometimes you wonder whether things would have been different if you’d clicked ‘Send’.” - Faraaz Kazi
120. “To love is to burn, to be on fire.” - Jane Austen
121. “You don’t have to live a lie. Living a lie will mess you up. It will send you into depression. It will warp your values.” - Gilbert Baker
122. “Anger, resentment, and jealousy don’t change the heart of others– it only changes yours.” - Shannon L. Alder
123. “When people don’t know exactly what depression is, they can be judgmental.” - Marion Cotillard
124. “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” - Samuel Butler
125. “We must understand that sadness is an ocean, and sometimes we drown, while other days we are forced to swim.” - R.M. Drake
126. "I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh, but I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry." - Dr. Seuss
127. "There is one pain, I often feel, which you will never know. It’s caused by the absence of you." - Ashleigh Brilliant
128. “The sun stopped shining for me is all. The whole story is: I am sad. I am sad all the time and the sadness is so heavy that I can’t get away from it. Not ever.” - Nina LaCour
129. “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.” - C.S. Lewis
130. “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
131. “Some friends don’t understand this. They don’t understand how desperate I am to have someone say, I love you and I support you just the way you are because you’re wonderful just the way you are. They don’t understand that I can’t remember anyone ever saying that to me.” - Elizabeth Wurtzel
132. “Some people are going to leave, but that’s not the end of your story. That’s the end of their part in your story.” - Faraaz Kazi
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133. “You’re like a grey sky. You’re beautiful, even though you don’t want to be.” - Jasmine Warga
134. “Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret, and depression. Do not repeat them in the future.” - Swami Sivananda
135. “Nothing is permanent in this wicked world – not even our troubles.” - Charlie Chaplin
136. “The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy.” - Jim Rohn
137. “You can close your eyes to things you don’t want to see, but you can’t close your heart to things you don’t want to feel.” - Johnny Depp
138. "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." - William James
139. “You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.” - Dan Millman
140. “Mental health…is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” - Noam Shpancer
141. “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” - Buddha
142. “Depression is not generalized pessimism, but pessimism specific to the effects of one’s own skilled action.” - Robert M. Sapolsky
143. “But if you’re broken, you don’t have to stay broken.” - Selena Gomez
144. “Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression. No man is free who cannot control himself.” - Pythagoras
145. “I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.” - Robin Williams
146. “Nothing is permanent in this wicked world — not even our troubles.” - Charlie Chaplin
147. “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” - Saint Francis of Assisi
148. “Tears come from the heart and not from the brain.” - Leonardo da Vinci
149. “Life is ten percent what you experience and ninety percent how you respond to it.” - Dorothy M. Neddermeyer
150. “If you’re going through hell keep going.” - Winston Churchill
151. “The pupil dilates in darkness and in the end, finds the light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds God.” - Victor Hugo
152. “The lotus is the most beautiful flower, whose petals open one by one. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first, you must have the mud – the obstacles of life and its suffering… “ - Goldie Hawn
153. “We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” - Joseph Campbell
154. “The difference between hope and despair is the ability to believe in tomorrow.” - Jerry Grillo
155. “I’m not grateful for depression, but it honestly made me work harder and gave me the drive that I have to succeed and to make it work.” - Lili Reinhart
How Can Reading Quotes For Depression Help You?
Reading quotes for depression can be helpful in several ways:
- Inspiration: Depression can be a very isolating and demotivating experience. Reading quotes from others who have been through similar struggles can provide inspiration and a sense of connection. Sometimes, just reading the words of someone who has experienced depression can help you feel less alone.
- Perspective: Quotes can provide a new perspective on depression and the challenges that come with it. They can help you reframe negative thoughts and feelings, giving you a different way to think about your struggles.
- Encouragement: Depression can be a very difficult and long-lasting battle. Reading quotes can provide encouragement and a reminder that others have been able to overcome their depression. This can give you the strength and motivation to continue fighting.
- Validation: Depression can make you feel like your thoughts and feelings are not valid. Reading quotes from others who have experienced similar emotions can provide a sense of validation and understanding.
- Mindfulness: Some quotes can help you focus on the present moment and encourage mindfulness. This can be helpful in managing the overwhelming emotions and negative thoughts that often come with depression.
Next Steps
Implementing quotes for depression into your life can be a helpful way to cope with symptoms and manage your emotions.
Here are some ways to incorporate quotes into your daily routine:
- Create a collection: Start by gathering a collection of quotes that resonate with you. You can create a physical collection by writing them down in a notebook or journal, or create a digital collection by saving them in a document or using a quote app.
- Display them: Once you have a collection of quotes, display them where you can see them regularly. You could create a wall of quotes in your room, put a quote on your desk at work, or set a quote as your phone or computer background.
- Use them as affirmations: Choose a few quotes that you find particularly inspiring and use them as daily affirmations. Repeat them to yourself in the morning or before bed, or whenever you need a reminder of your strength and resilience.
- Share them with others: If you find a quote particularly helpful or inspiring, share it with friends or family members who may also benefit from it. You could also share quotes on social media, which could help others who are struggling with depression as well.
- Journal with them: Use quotes as prompts for journaling. Reflect on how a particular quote makes you feel or how it relates to your life. Writing about your thoughts and feelings can help you process your emotions and gain new insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Inspiring Quotes For Depression?
There are many inspiring quotes for depression, and they can vary depending on the individual.
Some popular quotes include: "You are not alone," "This too shall pass," "Every storm runs out of rain," and "Keep going, even when it feels impossible."
It's important to find quotes that resonate with you and provide comfort and motivation.
Can Quotes Really Help With Depression?
While quotes alone may not be a cure for depression, they can be a helpful tool in managing symptoms and providing motivation and inspiration.
Reading quotes can provide a sense of connection, validation, and perspective. They can also encourage mindfulness and positive thinking.
Incorporating quotes into your daily routine can be a helpful way to cope with depression and manage your emotions.
How Can I Find Inspiring Quotes For Depression?
There are many resources available for finding inspiring quotes for depression. You can search online for quotes or use apps that provide daily quotes.
You could also read books or watch videos by people who have experienced depression and share their insights and wisdom.
Another option is to create your own quotes by reflecting on your experiences and finding hope and inspiration in your own journey.