Depression | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Hot Topics
  3. Health
  4. Depression

Depression MAG

April 10, 2013
By twentysixscribbles PLATINUM, Ithaca, New York
More by this author
twentysixscribbles PLATINUM, Ithaca, New York
30 articles 0 photos 8 comments
View profile

Depression does not always mean
Beautiful girls shattering at the wrists
A glorified, heroic battle for your sanity
Or mothers that never got the chance to say good-bye

Sometimes depression means
Not getting out of bed for three days
Because your feet refuse to believe
That they will not shatter upon impact with the floor

Sometimes depression means
That summoning the willpower
To go downstairs and do the laundry
Is the most impressive thing you accomplish that week

Sometimes depression means
Lying on the floor staring at the ceiling for hours
Because you cannot convince your body
That it is capable of movement

Sometimes depression means
Not being able to write for weeks
Because the only words you have to offer the world
Are trapped and drowning and I swear to God I'm trying

Sometimes depression means
That every single bone in your body aches
But you have to keep going through the motions
Because you are not allowed to call in to work depressed

Sometimes depression means
Ignoring every phone call for an entire month
Because yes, they have the right number
But you are not the person they're looking for, not anymore.

© Alana R.

Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Hot Topics
Accutane
By Anonymous
Hot Topics
Losing my Mental Edge
By Anonymous
Hot Topics
Experiences
By Anonymous
Hot Topics
Diabetic Living
By Anonymous
Hot Topics
The Girl Terry Fox
By Anonymous
Hot Topics
Destroying Depression
By Robert Owens BRONZE
Tucson, Arizona
Robert Owens BRONZE, Tucson, Arizona
3 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 15 comments.

JoeBiden said...
on Feb. 18 2021 at 11:26 am
JoeBiden, Washington, District Of Columbia
0 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
My fellow Americans, here's the deal!

View profile
My fellow Amercans, heres the deal!

-President Biden
Robert214 GOLD said...
on Feb. 5 2020 at 8:17 pm
Robert214 GOLD, Guangzhou, Other
11 articles 0 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
Make the best of what is within our power, and take the rest as it occurs. -Epictetus

View profile
Amazing! Very relatable!
tigerbeats72 BRONZE said...
on Oct. 24 2018 at 6:37 pm
tigerbeats72 BRONZE, Reno, Nevada
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"She's not missing, she's gone."<br /> Papertowns

View profile
I realize this was posted five years ago, but I wanted to thank you for writing this. Sometimes people need to understand to be understood and in a way this beautiful poem understood so many people. There will be divots in life that you have to jump and then there will be canyons you will struggle to climb. I am just now realizing this after two years of trying to find my way through the tunnels of this canyon.
jadieb10 said...
on Sep. 25 2016 at 6:16 am
Okay. This is such a long shot, but honestly I am satisfied just knowing who wrote these beautiful words so if you don't respond, it's okay. I found this years ago and remembered it because it was so relevant and perfect for the situation I was in. It's honestly such a beautiful piece of art. I've grown so much and this poem really took part in what I went through and i'd love nothing more than to have your permission to have some of the words tattooed on me. If not, I understand, but I won't unless I have your ok. Thank you for this, it in itself has been one of the most beautiful things in my life.
Kid_With_A_Pen BRONZE said...
on Jan. 15 2016 at 10:34 am
Kid_With_A_Pen BRONZE, Sheperdsville, Kentucky
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
be crazy. be stupid. be silly. be weird. be whatever. because life is too short to be anything but happy.

View profile
great job very relateable
GennaElissa PLATINUM said...
on Mar. 7 2015 at 9:35 pm
GennaElissa PLATINUM, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
20 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of us while we live.&quot; -Norman Cousins

View profile
This poem is absolutely brilliant. I don't think this subject matter could been put into words better or more eloquently than you've done.
MRNONAME101 said...
on Oct. 12 2014 at 5:27 am
MRNONAME101, Beaverton, Oregon
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
View profile
Thankyou for helping to spread the word and getting others to truly empathize with those who have depression
Dinky.2017 said...
on May. 13 2014 at 1:16 pm
that was powerful and awesome
twentysixscribbles PLATINUM said...
on May. 6 2014 at 9:22 pm
twentysixscribbles PLATINUM, Ithaca, New York
30 articles 0 photos 8 comments
View profile
Hello! I am the orginal author of this poem, though I did publish it on my own tumblr first. I have a few pen names because of insecurity, one of them being Alanna and one of them being Hannah Nicole. I did see that floating around though, and I talked to the person and they went back and put my name on it. Thank you though, I really appreciate your concern :)
hectic.harmony BRONZE said...
on May. 6 2014 at 5:47 pm
hectic.harmony BRONZE, Lemoore, California
2 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
A woman is not written in braille, you do not have to touch her to get to know her. - Unknown

View profile
Hi I don't know if you are the original author of this poem cuz when I found it everywhere else it said Elexandra Tilton and I'm sorry I'm doing this publicly I dont know how else to egt in touch with you.. Uhmm someone on tumblr has plagorised parts of this poem and is taking credit for ir. I asked them about it but they havent said anything to me or taken the poem doen... I don't know how but if you know how to message be privately that would be nice. I just would want to know if it was someone stealing my work so I figured I'd tell you...
BandGeekAndProud PLATINUM said...
on Dec. 30 2013 at 4:26 pm
BandGeekAndProud PLATINUM, Burlington, Massachusetts
23 articles 0 photos 49 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Imagination is more important than knowledge.&quot;<br /> Albert Einstein

View profile
Thank you for writing this. It feels so good to know that someone feels the same way I do, in a sick, twisted way. Not that I wish this on anyone, but it helps to know that I'm not alone.
Keeper6 GOLD said...
on Nov. 14 2013 at 9:26 pm
Keeper6 GOLD, Buffalo, Minnesota
16 articles 0 photos 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
Giving up doesn&#039;t always mean you are weak, sometimes it just means you are strong enough to let go.

View profile
This is so true and real. Thank you for writing this.
LiannaR GOLD said...
on Oct. 26 2013 at 5:07 pm
LiannaR GOLD, Baltimore, Maryland
14 articles 0 photos 7 comments
View profile
This is amazing.
Ankylosaurus BRONZE said...
on May. 2 2013 at 8:11 pm
Ankylosaurus BRONZE, Berrien Springs, Michigan
2 articles 0 photos 1 comment
View profile
That was fantastically brillliant. I always love poems or short stories with an amazing ending. Very good. 
OurVoices PLATINUM said...
on Apr. 21 2013 at 12:06 am
OurVoices PLATINUM, Merrimac, Massachusetts
31 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are&quot; - e.e. cummings

View profile
Amazing job on this poem. it made me tear up reading it. its deeply moving, and please tell somebody about your depression, the world could use a great writer like you. so hang in there :)