A depression nap is more than a meme. If you’ve searched depression nap online, chances are high that you were directed to a multitude of depression memes depicting someone dramatically sleeping across a desk, on a flight of stairs, or other unlikely places; worse, the caption usually indicates someone is napping right where they are because they “can’t even.”

Depression nap memes are a bit degrading, rather stigmatizing, even. If you or someone you care about has depression, you or they might experience a strong urge to sleep in the daytime. The reason isn’t laziness (depression and laziness aren’t the same thing), nor is it that you’re so poorly adjusted to your life that you need to sleep your day away because you “can’t even.” Read on to discover just what a depression nap is and, if you need one, how to fit it into your day.

The What and Why of Depression Naps

We use the term “depression nap” to refer to a depression-induced need for sleep during the day. It isn’t an official term, however, nor is it a formal type of depression treatment. It’s a convenient term for something that you may or may not want to do to manage your depression.

Taking a nap is a compelling activity for many people living with major depression, for good reason. Depression:

• Causes extreme physical fatigue
• Causes severe mental exhaustion
• Creates powerful negative emotions that people want to escape or avoid
• Is overwhelming as it affects one’s whole being and life in general
• Can lead to nighttime insomnia, which makes daytime fatigue intense

For many people, the need for daytime sleep is strong. Is it a good idea to take a depression nap, though? As with so many aspects of this illness, the answer isn’t clear-cut. There are distinct advantages to depression naps, but there are clear disadvantages, too.

The Pros and Cons of Depression Napping

Some doctors, therapists, and sleep experts are opposed to daytime napping for those living with depression. Daytime sleeping can make it difficult to fall asleep and/or stay asleep at night, which in turn makes you more tired during the day. You take a nap to make up for the lack of sleep, but when nighttime comes, that daytime snooze once again interferes in quality sleep. It becomes a vicious cycle that prevents depression from improving.

Depression naps have another negative consequence that many people don’t automatically realize. When you nap, you are isolated from others and become shut off from your support network. Isolation is a harmful effect of depression as it is, and depression naps tend to make it worse.

These disadvantages of depression naps are serious. Napping daily when you have depression might not help you heal. That said, depression is exhausting, and there are times when sneaking in some sleep is beneficial. The brain does need sleep to function properly, after all.

Sleep enhances brain health and functioning, and they can be quite restorative and refreshing. Depression depletes energy and makes functioning difficult. Doing the simplest of tasks is often a gargantuan effort that uses up all energy. A depression nap can give you more energy to do what you need to do. It can also help you regulate your emotions so negative feelings don’t overpower you.

Being intentional about how to fit a depression nap into your day will help you reap the benefits without being crushed by the cons.

Tips for Taking a Depression Nap

If you decide to nap, use these tips to maximize your experience:

• Sleep earlier in the day rather than mid-late afternoon to minimize interference in your nighttime sleep schedule.
• Find a quiet space to minimize disturbances that would prevent quality sleep. If you’re working, you might slip out to your car on a break or find a little-used space in the building.
• Keep depression naps brief. Many experts recommend no longer than 20 minutes for any nap, but there aren’t recommendations for a depression nap. Experiment to see what works best for you, but remember than beyond 20 minutes, daytime sleep can disrupt nighttime sleep.
• Maintain a regular sleep schedule and routine at night even if you aren’t tired at your normal bedtime.
• Get some light exercise after a nap and/or do something engaging. This is difficult with depression, but do it even if you don’t want to. You’ll eventually discover that you want to do things again.

Depression naps have both benefits and drawbacks. They help some people thrive, while they make others feel worse. Know yourself and how your depression responds to different actions. If you are consistently exhausted, give a depression nap a try and see if you benefit. It’s one more thing you can do to work toward overcoming depression.

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There is some discussion around the specific definition of dissociative identity disorder, but, according to Medscape, dissociative identity disorder is a serious mental illness and is increasingly understood as "a complex and chronic posttraumatic psychopathology closely related to severe, particularly early, child abuse." Dissociative identity disorder, commonly known as DID, is characterized by two or more personalities within the individual. Typically, one is dominant and present more of the time but, at all times, one personality is present.

Previously known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder is one of several known dissociative disorders. It commonly involves:

• disruptions in memory, awareness, identity and/or perception
• auditory hallucinations
• severe depression and suicidality
• phobic anxiety
• somatization (medical symptom with no discernable cause)
• substance abuse
• borderline personality features

You can see the dissociative identity disorder (DID) DSM-5 criteria here.

Definition of Dissociation in Reference to DID

Severe dissociation is central to dissociative identity disorder. According to Mosby's Medical Dictionary, dissociation is defined as, "an unconscious defense mechanism by which an idea, thought, emotion, or other mental process is separated from the consciousness and thereby loses emotional significance." Very mild forms of dissociation are experienced by most people. For example, when you drive to work via the same route as you have many times and when you arrive, you realize you have no memory of the drive. That is a form of dissociation. However, people with DID experience very severe forms of dissociation that actually separate their consciousnesses into various personalities.

Severe Childhood Abuse and Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative identity disorder is not normally diagnosed until adulthood but it is thought to develop in childhood when severe, repeated, prolonged childhood abuse or neglect is taking place. Dissociation occurs as a defense mechanism to protect a person's consciousness from the actions currently taking place. In very severe cases, this dissociation actually creates more than one personality in a single individual – DID.

Not all abused children develop a dissociative disorder but studies indicate that abused children show more dissociation than non-abused children do.

How Common Is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?

It is not known exactly how common dissociative identity disorder is; it is thought to be rare, although more common than previously thought. Some experts put the number as high as 1% of the population. This may due to the increasing number of child abuse cases. In 1995, it was estimated that one-in-25 children were abused, although more recent estimates put the number of physical/sexual abuse cases at almost 50%. More females suffer from childhood abuse than males, at a ratio of 10:1, so it's likely that, overall, more women than men suffer from DID. However, males may suffer more dissociation that rises to a level of dysfunction than females. (Dissociative Identity Disorder Controversy: Is DID Real?)

Prognosis of Those Who Meet the Definition of DID

While DID is a severe mental illness, treatment of dissociative identity disorder is available and helpful. The first priority is to ensure that all forms of abuse has ceased. Once that is done, therapy focuses on trust issues, healthy coping behaviors, logging of emotions and developing a crisis plan. In addition to DID therapy, medication may be used to aid in the treatment of some symptoms such as severe depression.

Additional DID Information

• Real Dissociative Identity Disorder Stories and Videos
• Dissociative Identity Disorder Cases: Famous and Amazing
• The Amazing History of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
• Celebrities and Famous People with DID
• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Statistics and Facts

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Antidepressants are medications used to treat depression and several other disorders. With proper treatment, often including antidepressants, 70% - 80% of people with major depressive disorder (MDD) can achieve a significant reduction in symptoms.¹

Antidepressant drugs are not happy pills, and they are not a panacea. They are prescription drugs that come with risks as well as benefits and should only be taken under a doctor's supervision. They are, however, one depression treatment option. Taking medications for depression is not a sign of personal weakness –it is the treatment of a disease.

Whether an antidepressant medication is the best depression treatment option depends on the severity of depression, history of the illness, the patient's age and their personal preferences. Most people do best with a combination of antidepressants and depression therapy.

How Antidepressants Work

Most antidepressants are believed to work by slowing the removal of certain chemicals from the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and norepinephrine). Neurotransmitters are needed for normal brain function and are involved in the control of mood and in other functions, such as eating, sleep, pain and thinking.

Antidepressants work by making these natural chemicals more available to the brain.

Types of Antidepressants

There are several types of antidepressants, including:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants)
• Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI antidepressants)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (tricyclics)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Others

Each type of antidepressant works on brain chemicals in slightly different ways. You can find a complete list of antidepressants under each category here, along with links to information about each individual antidepressant medication.

SSRI Type of Antidepressants

SSRIs are a group of depression medications that include drugs such as:

• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)

SSRI antidepressants act only on the neurotransmitter serotonin.

SSRIs have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs, perhaps because they act only on one body chemical, serotonin. Typical side effects of SSRI antidepressants include:

• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Sexual problems

Tricyclic Type of Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants drugs have been used to treat depression since the 1950s. This type of depression medication acts on neurotransmitters like serotonin and other chemicals as well.

Tricyclics include drugs like:

• Amitriptyline (Elavil, Levate)
• Amoxapine (Asendin)
• Clomipramine (Anafranil)
• Desipramine (Norpramin)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• Imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil-PM)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
• Protriptyline (Vivactil)
• Trimipramine(Surmontil, Trimip, Tripramine)

Tricyclic antidepressants tend to have more side effects than SSRIs. Common side effects include:

• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Difficulty urinating
• Worsening of glaucoma
• Impaired thinking
• Tiredness
• Changes in blood pressure and heart rate

Other Types of Antidepressants

Other types of antidepressants work on different brain chemicals or work in ways different than tricyclics or SSRIs. Commonly used medications are:

• Bupropion (Welbutrin)
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Mirtazapine (Remeron)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

The newer antidepressants in this class tend to have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants and vary by medication.

Important Warning When Taking Depression Medication

In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered makers of all antidepressant medications to include a "black box warning" (the most serious warning) on their products' labeling to include warnings about increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior, known as suicidality, in children, adolescents and young adults (ages 18 to 24) during initial treatment (generally the first one to two months).

Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of [drug name] or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need.

Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older.

Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber.

Interactions of Antidepressants with Other Mediations

All types of antidepressants can have an effect on many other medicines. Whether prescription or over-the-counter, you should tell your doctor about all medications, supplements, herbal products or anything else being taken.

MAOI antidepressants carry significant risk of interaction and any medication should only be taken under a doctor's supervision. Additionally, taking any medication which increases serotonin increases the risk of a potentially dangerous condition known as serotonin syndrome. Illegal drugs are particularly dangerous.

Which Antidepressant Drug Is Best For Me?

All antidepressant drugs are considered to be equally effective, but certain types of antidepressants work best for people with certain depression symptoms. For example, people who are depressed and agitated do best when they take an antidepressant drug that also calms them down. People who are depressed and withdrawn may benefit more from an antidepressant drug that has a stimulating effect. A doctor can match a person's symptoms with the antidepressant that is right for them.

Antidepressants Are Not a Magic Bullet

While antidepressant drugs can treat depression, they cannot solve problems in people's lives. Some mental health professionals worry people who could benefit from psychotherapy turn to antidepressant drugs for a "quick fix." The best approach is generally a combination of counseling and depression medications, but the correct treatment for a specific patient depends on many factors. However, it's important to remember that with medical treatment, most people will experience significant recovery from depression.

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Take an antidepressant quiz and find out if you should consider taking an antidepressant medication for your depression.

Antidepressants are prescription medications used to treat depression and other psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Antidepressant medications are often the first treatment choice for adults with moderate to severe depression, sometimes along with psychotherapy. Although antidepressants may not cure depression, they can help you achieve remission — the disappearance or nearly complete reduction of depression symptoms.

Take this antidepressant quiz and see if you might be a candidate for antidepressant medication. Answer true or false to the following statements/questions and then look at the corresponding additional information below:

1. I am depressed.
   True False
2. My symptoms of depression interfere with my daily living.
   True False
3. I have been able to overcome symptoms of depression with other treatment.
   True False
4. I would be willing to continue taking medications as prescribed for a period of at least several months.
   True False
5. I'm willing to work through any side effects that the medications may cause.
   True False
6. My symptoms are worse than any potential side effects of the medication.
   True False
7. I am willing to try more than one medication if the first one doesn't work for me.
   True False
8. I'm taking medications for other health conditions that will interfere with antidepressants.
   True False
9. I will seek professional counseling to help with my depression.
   True False
10. I will modify my lifestyle if needed to include exercising, reducing stress, and eating a balanced diet.
    True False

Here is the key to the statements/questions above.

1. I am depressed.
Depression causes symptoms such as low energy, prolonged sadness or irritability, thoughts of death or suicide, and lack of interest in daily activities. It can be treated with antidepressant medication and psychotherapy.

2. My symptoms of depression interfere with my daily living.
Symptoms of depression can impact your relationships, ability to work or function at school. You may be sleeping too much or not enough or simply feeling tired all the time. Many with depression feel unworthy or guilty without obvious reason. They have problems concentrating, remembering or making decisions. And some think about death or suicide often. These symptoms are indications you may need an antidepressant.

3. I have been able to overcome symptoms of depression with other treatment.
If you have been able to control your symptoms through professional counseling, use of complementary therapy such as St. John's wort, or home treatment then you probably don't need an antidepressant at this time.

4. I would be willing to continue taking medications as prescribed for a period of at least several months.
Quitting an antidepressant medication too quickly can result in a relapse; a return of depression symptoms. Most doctors urge patients to remain on medication 7-15 months after recovery. Recurrent depression may require medication for the rest of your life.

5. I'm willing to work through any side effects that the medications may cause.
When you first start taking antidepressant medication, you may experience nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea. Anxiety or irritability. Problems sleeping or drowsiness, loss of sexual desire or ability. Headaches or dizziness. For many, these side effects are mild and temporary and disappear within a few weeks. It's important to work through this period as your body adjusts to the medication.

6. My symptoms are worse than any potential side effects of the medication.
For some, one or more side effects may be permanent as long as you take the medication. When considering whether to continue the medication, it's important to balance the relief of depression symptoms against continuing side effects.

7. I am willing to try more than one medication if the first one doesn't work for me.
Unfortunately, scientists haven't yet discovered which antidepressants work best for a specific individual. Doctors accomplish that through trial and error. If you are not finding relief from a certain antidepressant or the side-effects are unbearable, tell your doctor. You might have to try a different one.

8. I'm taking medications for other health conditions that will or might interfere with antidepressants.
Bring a list of all the medications you are taking and share them with your doctor. Also, tell your doctor about any medical conditions you may have like high blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, pregnancy, seizures, diabetes or high salt levels in your blood.

9. I will seek professional counseling to help with my depression.
Psychotherapy offers people the opportunity to identify the factors that contribute to their depression and to deal effectively with them. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a combination of therapy and antidepressant medication is the most effective treatment for major depression.

10. I will modify my lifestyle if needed to include exercising, reducing stress, and eating a balanced diet.
Not exercising, high stress levels and unhealthy eating habits all contribute to increasing the level of depression. Speak to your doctor about developing a healthy lifestyle.

Print out the results of this antidepressant quiz and share them with your doctor or other healthcare professional.   Keep in mind, this antidepressant test is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. Only a doctor or qualified healthcare professional can diagnose depression or another healthcare condition and tell you whether or not you might need antidepressant medication.

Dissociation (disconnection from aspects of oneself and/or the environment) is something that people do naturally, so what, then, are dissociative disorders? Like all disorders, dissociative disorders have symptoms so severe as to cause great distress to a person and his or her life, and this is distinctly different from an individual who may experience dissociation occasionally and without harm.

What Is Dissociation?

If you've ever driven to work or the grocery store, gotten there and not remembered how you got there, you have experienced a very normal form of dissociation. Dissociation is a lack of connection between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and/or identity. Normal forms of dissociation are minor and not problematic whereas when dissociative disorders are defined, they have severe symptoms that cause problems in a person's life.

Causes of Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders are typically caused by trauma as a way of coping with this stress. According to the Mayo Clinic:

"Dissociative disorders most often form in children subjected to long-term physical, sexual or emotional abuse or, less often, a home environment that's frightening or highly unpredictable. The stress of war or natural disasters also can bring on dissociative disorders."

Dissociative Disorders in the DSM-5

The latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines four types of dissociative disorders:

• Dissociative amnesia (with a possible subdiagnosis of dissociative fugue, which involves confused wandering with amnesia) – an inability to recall important information to the extent that it cannot be explained by normal forgetfulness.
• Dissociative identity disorder – characterized by two or more identities or personality traits within a single individual.
• Depersonalization/derealisation disorder – major detachment wherein a person feels that objects around him or her are changing in shape or size or that people are automated and inhuman. A person may also feel detached from his or her own body.
• Other dissociative identity disorder not specified – a dissociative disorder that doesn't fall specifically into one of the other three diagnoses.

Dissociative Disorder Facts and Statistics

Dissociative disorders have been studied, but not to the extent of many other disorders so dissociative disorder facts are often disputed. That said, some dissociative disorder facts and statistics include:

• An estimated 2.4% of people meet the diagnostic criteria for depersonalization/derealisation disorder, although this estimate is argued by many and, in reality, it may be lower.
• Dissociative identity disorder may be observed in 1-3% of the population.
• The accepted medications for treatment for dissociative disorders include second-generation antipsychotics like aripiprazole (Abilify) and some second-generation anticonvulsants such as levetiracetam (Keppra). Antidepressants may also be useful.
• Some believe that dissociative disorders should be considered trauma-related disorders.
• Dissociative identity disorder used to be known as multiple personality disorder. The name was changed in 1994.
• According to the Sidran Institute (devoted to education around trauma disorders), most people with a dissociative disorder also have a posttraumatic stress disorder.

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When I woke up this morning, there were candy bar wrappers all over the kitchen, and I had a stomach ache. I had chocolate on my face and hands. My husband says I was up eating last night, but I have no memories of doing so. Could he be playing a joke on me?

Maybe not. You might have nocturnal sleep-related types of eating disorder, a relatively unknown condition that is just beginning to be investigated.

What is a nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NS-RED)?

In spite of its name, NS-RED is not, strictly speaking, an eating disorder. It is thought to be a type of sleep disorder in which people eat while seeming to be sound asleep. They may eat in bed or roam through the house and prowl the kitchen.

These people are not conscious during episodes of NS-RED, which may be related to sleep-walking. They are not aware they are eating. They have no memories of having done so when then wake, or they have only fragmentary memories. Episodes probably occur in a state somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.

When people with NS-RED awake and discover the evidence of their nighttime forays, they are embarrassed, ashamed, and afraid they may be losing their minds. Some, when confronted with the evidence by family members, deny that they were the perpetrators. They truly do not believe they could have done such a thing and cannot admit to such a dramatic loss of control.

Food consumed during NS-RED episodes tends to be high-fat, high-sugar comfort food that people restrain themselves from eating while awake. Sometimes these folks eat bizarre combinations of food (hotdogs dipped in peanut butter, raw bacon smeared with mayonnaise, etc.) or non-food items like soap they have sliced like they would slice cheese.

Who gets NS-RED?

One to three percent of the general population (3 to 9 million people) seems to be subject to this disorder, and ten to fifteen percent of people with eating disorders are affected. The problem may be chronic or appear once or twice and then disappear. Many of these people are severely stressed, anxious individuals who are dismayed and angry at themselves for their nocturnal loss of control. Their behaviors may pave the way to depression and weight gain.

Many of these individuals diet during the day, which may leave them hungry and vulnerable to binge eating at night when their control is weakened by sleep.

People with NS-RED sometimes have histories of alcoholism, drug abuse, and sleep disorders other than NS-RED, problems such as sleepwalking, restless legs, and sleep apnea. Their sleep is fragmented, and they are often tired when they wake.

Sleep disorders, including NS-RED, seem to run in families. They may have a genetic component.

How can people eat and not remember doing so?

Are they lying? No, they are not lying. It seems that parts of their brains are truly asleep, and, at the same time, other parts are awake. The parts that regulate waking consciousness are asleep, so the next day there are no memories of eating the night before.

Is there any treatment for NS-RED?

If there is, what is it? Yes, there is treatment. It begins with a clinical interview and a night or two at a sleep-disorders center where brain activity is monitored. Sometimes medication is helpful, but sleeping pills should be avoided. They can make matters worse by increasing confusion and clumsiness that can lead to injury. Regular use of sleeping pills can also lead to dependency and rebound wakefulness on withdrawal. Instead, ask your doctor about prescription SSRIs.

Also helpful are interventions that reduce stress and anxiety; for example, stress management classes, assertiveness training, counseling, and reducing intake of alcohol, street drugs, and caffeine.

If you think you may have NS-RED, talk to your physician and ask for a referral to a sleep-disorders treatment center. Help is available. Take advantage of it.

New study suggests that antidepressants are only slightly more effective than a placebo.

Antidepressants work only slightly better than dummy pills, and the Food and Drug Administration has not informed physicians of how little benefit most of these depression drugs offer, suggests a study to be released next week.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, two psychologists obtained 47 studies used by the FDA for approval of the six antidepressants prescribed most widely between 1987-99.

Overall, antidepressant pills worked 18 percent better than placebos, a statistically significant difference, "but not meaningful for people in clinical settings," says University of Connecticut psychologist Irving Kirsch. He and co-author Thomas Moore released their findings in "Prevention and Treatment," an e-journal of the American Psychological Association.

More than half of the 47 studies found that patients on antidepressants improved no more than those on placebos, Kirsch says. "They should have told the American public about this. The drugs have been touted as much more effective than they are." He says studies finding no benefit have been mentioned only on labeling for Celexa, the most recently approved drug. The others included in his evaluation: Prozac, Paxil, Effexor and Serzone.

Janet Woodcock of the FDA Center for Drugs challenges the claim that antidepressants are hardly better than placebos. "We make sure these drugs work before we put them on the market."

Clinical trials don't mimic real-life effectiveness, she says. Patients may be rated more ill than they really are at the outset because doctors are so eager to get them into drug trials. Then they improve "as they cycle through the illness," and that can skew findings. "We know [a clinical trial] is an artificial situation, but it's the best we have."

She says she doesn't know whether the FDA has given doctors labeling information about studies finding that the depression drugs don't work, "but we are trying to have labels that are more informative for physicians." The FDA requires two studies showing a statistically significant effect for approval of antidepressants.

"We've seen over and over that these depression drugs work, but they work best along with psychotherapy," says psychiatrist Michelle Riba of the University of Michigan Depression Center in Ann Arbor. Noting that psychologists are waging a determined fight to gain antidepressant prescription privileges, she adds, "If it's no big deal, why are they fighting so hard to get the right to prescribe these depression drugs?"

Pills by the Millions

New prescriptions written for six of the most widely prescribed antidepressants during 2000:

-- 10.7 million
Paroxetine (Paxil) -- 10.49 million
Fluoxetine (Prozac) -- 10 million
Citalopram (Celexa) -- 5.29 million
Venlafaxine (Effexor) -- 4.2 million
Nefazodone (Serzone) -- 2.34 million

Source: IMS Health, July 11, 2002

Symbols of depression abound in all forms of art and communication. Because major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex illness affecting someone’s whole being—emotions, thoughts, cognitive functioning, behavior, and experiences in the world—it can be hard to put into words. Symbols are powerful ways to understand depression. Below is a collection of depression symbols that aren’t as widely known as other more prominent icons.

First, Some Common Symbols of Depression

You might have seen rainstorm images, ravens, and skull or grim reaper symbols. Barren landscapes and faces of cliffs are popular, too. All of these are commonly associated with depression because they capture the essence of the darkness, despair, struggle, and thoughts of death that are hallmarks of major depression.

Other depression symbols depict hope and transcendence. Butterflies represent beautiful transformation and healing, while the semicolon indicates that depression is a pause in one’s life journey, not a final stop. The anchor is another popular way to portray major depression; indeed, it’s a symbol of hope and strong, stalwart support or solid tethering to life despite the raging storm one is trying to endure.

These symbols speak volumes. They’re not the only images people use to express depression, however.

Negative Depression Symbols You May Not Have Realized Were Associated with MDD

Poplar trees represent pain, grief, and funerals.

The half-moon represents the dual experience within you. Half of you is illuminated, trying to fight depression while the other half has given up and remains in the dark.
 

Stagnant water evokes feelings of being stuck in thick murk, surrounded by mosquitos and unable to flow.
 

Fire represents anger, destruction, and punishment and thus symbolizes the common belief in depression that one has been destroyed and/or is a terrible person who deserves the illness as punishment.
 

Pomegranates. Taken from Greek mythology, the pomegranate was the fruit of the dead and symbolized Persephone’s entrapment in the Underworld. To ensure that she would return, Hades tricked Persephone into biting a pomegranate.
 

The direction North. In literature and depression, north symbolizes cold, hostility, isolation, and death.
 

The “peace” sign. Surprisingly, this emblem didn’t stand for peace. Believe it or not, it’s a abstract representation of depression. Look hard enough, and you’ll begin to see it as it was meant to be: as a stick figure bent over in hopeless anguish. (See the short lines as arms reaching for the ground and the circle as representing the head.)
 

Positive Symbols of Depression Not Always Recognized as Such

Koi fish. According to legend, koi steadily and gracefully swam up a powerful waterfall. As a reward for their determination and perseverance against this menacing obstacle, they were transformed into dragons.

Dragonfly. These beautiful, ancient insects symbolize overcoming hardship and taking the time to connect with and nurture the positive within us.
 

Small stones. Their depression symbolism comes from the ancient Chinese proverb, “The man who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones,” and the African proverb, “If you wish to move mountains tomorrow, you must begin by moving stones today.” Depression is a tall, broad mountain that seems impossible to move or even climb over. Yet, doing so is possible by taking small steps every day—by moving stones.
 

Succulents are beautiful and hardy. The serve to remind us that we grow stronger because of our hardships. Depression makes us stronger.
 

The Phoenix is the mythological bird that rises from its own ashes, just as you can rise out of the depths of depression, your ashes. (“Ashes” is a bonus symbol of depression for you.)

Anything that is meaningful to you can be your own depression symbol, illustrating what your illness is to you and your overcoming it to thrive in your quality life once again.

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If you’re wondering how to deal with a depressed girlfriend, you may be scared or uncertain about her wellbeing. Mental illness can be debilitating for those affected, but it is also stressful and worrying for people on the outside – especially when you feel you should be doing something to fix the situation. So, what’s the secret to dealing with a depressed girlfriend without upsetting her? How do you know when it’s time to seek help? Here are some tips on how to deal with a depressed girlfriend.

How to Deal with a Depressed Girlfriend When She Needs Help

Not knowing how to deal with a depressed girlfriend can be a lonely experience. You might barely recognize your girlfriend when she's depressed, and you may struggle to know when to seek help. You may even blame yourself for your girlfriend's depression or get frustrated that you can't help your girlfriend with depression. Dealing with a depressed girlfriend is hard, but depression is an illness. It's nobody’s fault, and it's certainly not your job to fix it.

Knowing how to deal with a depressed girlfriend depends on a number of factors. If she has a reliable support system and there are others who know about her depression (such as family, friends and perhaps a counselor), then you do not need to do anything but listen and treat her with compassion. If your girlfriend doesn’t have much in the way of support or you're the only one who is aware of her mental illness, you will need to increase your understanding and gather your resources. This way, you'll know when and where to get help if her depression becomes a crisis.

How to Deal with a Depressed Girlfriend Who Is Suicidal

Knowing how to deal with a depressed girlfriend who’s suicidal is a huge responsibility, and it’s not one you should face alone. That said, people with major depression will often hide thoughts of self-harm or suicide from others, so the extent of her suffering may not be evident.

If your girlfriend talks about repeatedly being a burden on others or wanting to "end it all," you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) 24 hours a day for free and confidential support. You should seek advice even if you’re not sure she will act on these thoughts. You will never know exactly what’s going on in the mind of someone else – particularly someone who’s depressed – so it’s better to err on the side of caution when dealing with a depressed girlfriend so you can make sure she is safe.

If your girlfriend is acutely suicidal (i.e., threatening to harm herself or making plans to), you should call 911 or your local emergency service immediately. Don’t try to “talk her down” or deal with the situation yourself. If your girlfriend is suicidal, she needs urgent treatment from medical professionals.

Dealing with a Depressed Girlfriend While Helping Yourself

Mental illness can take its toll on any relationship, and there may be times when you feel helpless and exhausted from it all. It’s important to set healthy boundaries when wondering how to deal with a depressed girlfriend. Be clear about what you can and can’t do, and make sure you have somewhere you can go to for support when it all gets too much. If you're at the end of your rope, you may even consider ending the relationship to save yourself from depression.

Many people find it helpful to talk to a counselor when someone they love is depressed. Speaking to a professional will help you make sense of your emotions and find strategies to help your depressed girlfriend. You could also research support groups in your area for loved ones of people with depression. You can find online and real-time peer support through the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, as well as wellness tools, podcasts and help in a crisis.

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Wondering how to deal with a depressed wife can be frustrating and upsetting. You may blame yourself for not being able to fix the situation, or you may wonder why you can’t make her happy. Depression doesn't work like this, however. Depression is a debilitating medical condition that impacts partners and loved ones as well as those affected. Having a depressed wife doesn't mean that your marriage is doomed because of depression or that she'll never get over it, but it does mean there may be challenging times ahead. Find out how to deal with a depressed wife and protect your relationship.

How to Deal with a Depressed Wife: Things You Should Know

Knowing how to deal with a depressed wife is tricky. People with depression will often say that they’ll never recover, or else they can’t imagine ever feeling happy again, and it’s easy to believe them. However, the first thing you should know about dealing with a depressed wife is that people with depression can – and often do – make a full recovery.

According to The National Mental Health Association, more than 80% of people who get treatment for depression improve within 4-6 weeks. That said, recovery isn’t always straightforward, and people often feel worse before they get better, particularly if they start taking new antidepressant medication. Statistics show that 50% of people who experience an episode of depression will go on to have another, so even if your wife does get better, you must be prepared for depression to return in the future.  

Try not to get frustrated when dealing with a depressed wife. Everyone’s path to recovery is different, and she needs your compassion now rather than your judgment.

Dealing with a Depressed Wife When She Isn’t Getting Better

Wondering how to deal with a depressed wife can feel hopeless at times. You may be doing everything in your power to help, and she may be ticking all the right boxes in terms of seeking help, but perhaps she still isn’t improving. Part of knowing how to deal with your depressed wife is accepting that some people don't get better right away. This is not your wife's fault; it is just the nature of the illness.

There are several reasons why your wife may not be getting better despite ongoing depression treatment:

She is not ready to seek help for depression

Often, people don't start to recover from depression until they are ready to seek help. This happens when people agree to treatment to appease others, rather than actually wanting to feel better.

It can be hard to imagine why someone might not want to get better from depression, and most people do. However, there are many complex reasons why your wife might not be ready to seek help just yet, so don't try to force it. Instead, encourage an open and honest dialogue where she can share her concerns about treatment so that you can work to overcome them as a couple (learn how to help a depressed wife when she doesn't want your help).

She hasn’t found the right depression treatment yet

You might be wondering how to deal with a depressed wife because she hasn’t found the right treatment yet. It takes time to treat depression, and there is usually a degree of trial and error involved. Your wife may need to try different forms of antidepressant medication or therapy before she finds one she is comfortable with.

Be patient while she is going through this process and encourage her not to rely on one method of treatment. Experts claim that, aside from medical and therapeutic options, there are many vital components to treating depression. Sleep, nutrition, stress-reduction, social support and exercise all play a part.

She is resistant to conventional treatment

Treatment-resistant depression is when someone has been receiving treatment for depression for months or years without showing signs of improvement.

Although being told your wife has treatment-resistant depression can feel hopeless, it just means she is not responding to conventional treatment. There are other options worth considering, such as different styles of therapy, different medication strategies, holistic therapies or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Your family doctor can explore these options with you in detail. In fact, if your wife has treatment-resistant depression, she should be talking about her options with a psychiatrist vs. the family doctor. That’s because a psychiatrist is a specialist in treating mental illnesses like depression.

Depression is the symptom, not the cause

If your wife seems resistant to treatment, it may be because her depression is the result of another condition. Bipolar disorder – for instance – can cause depressive episodes, but it is not treated in the same way as depression.

There are other physical causes to consider, such as anemia, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance or blood sugar imbalances, so it’s worth getting a full physical exam to rule out any underlying conditions. Knowing how to deal with a depressed wife can be as simple as suggesting she goes back to the doctor, but this could be an important step.

Dealing with a depressed wife may be challenging, but there's every reason to believe that she will get better in time. Key to understanding how to deal with a depressed wife is to assure her that you love and support her with or without depression and that you will find a solution together.

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