The Mighty Logo

20 Quotes That Help People With Mood Disorders Get Through Hard Times

The most helpful emails in health
Browse our free newsletters

While words don’t have the power to cure a mood disorder, they can be a powerful tool to help someone get through a bad moment, or even a bad day. Whether the words offer encouragement, advice or simply let us know we’re not alone — it’s nice to have a list of quotes to turn to when the thoughts in your head are less than inspiring.

To find out which quotes have helped people with mood disorders get through hard times, we teamed up with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and asked people in its community to share their favorite quotes.

Here are the words of wisdom they had to offer. Pass them on to someone who needs some inspiration today:

1. “Depression is also smaller than you. Always, it is smaller than you, even when it feels vast. It operates within you, you do not operate within it. It may be a dark cloud passing across the sky but – if that is the metaphor – you are the sky. You were there before it. And the cloud can’t exist without the sky, but the sky can exist without the cloud.” – Matt Haig from “Reasons to Stay Alive” (submitted by Karly M.)

The sky. Quote reads: Depression is also smaller than you. Always, it is smaller than you, even when it feels vast. It operates within you, you do not operate within it. It may be a dark cloud passing across the sky but – if that is the metaphor – you are the sky. You were there before it. And the cloud can't exist without the sky, but the sky can exist without the cloud.

2. “’I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,’ said Pooh. ‘There there,’ said Piglet. ‘I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.’” ― A.A. Milne from “Winnie the Pooh” (submitted by Lauri W.)

3. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — Albus Dumbledore from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by J.K. Rowling (submitted by Krystal N.)

4. “Become present. Be there as the observer of the mind. ” –  Eckhart Tolle (submitted by Mark D: “This was powerful for me as it taught me to observe rather than identify as well as the difference between the self and the ego.”)

5. “She was unstoppable. Not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.” — Beau Taplin (submitted by Sabrina S.)

6. “You wake up every morning to fight the same demons that left you so tired the night before; and that, my love, is bravery.” — submitted by Fatalyst S.

Sunlight shining through a window. Quote reads: You wake up every morning to fight the same demons that left you so tired the night before; and that, my love, is bravery.

7. “It may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day!” — submitted by Sheila R.

8. “This too shall pass.” — submitted by Nicole C.

9. “Don’t believe everything you think.” — submitted by Christine S.

10. “If you’re lost you can always be found.” — Phillip Phillips (submitted by Ellen S.)

11. “Don’t let your illness make you afraid to live, getting to the end of each day and knowing you did it proves the strength you have inside. Don’t give up.” — submitted by Ness T.

12. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin (submitted by Sandra F.)

Flower. Text reads: And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

13. “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” — Bill Wilson (submitted by Stepy T.)

14. “I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” — Sarah Williams (submitted by Jen B.)

15.Just keep swimming.” — Dory from “Finding Nemo” (submitted by Sara B.)

16. “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn (submitted by Andrea O.)

photo of waves. text reads: You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

17. “I am worthy.” — submitted by Julie T.

18. “I always tell myself ‘the bad times never last. It will end. The good days are just around the corner.’ Knowing there is always an end to the down moods always helps me to get through that day/week/month.” — Jenny B.

19. “We can get better, because we’re not dead yet.” — Frank Turner (submitted by Darren W.)

20. “My mood does not define my mind.” — submitted by Michelle L.

man deep in thought. Text reads: My mood does not define my mind.

To learn more about DBSA’s “I’m Here” campaign, click here.

I’m here… is a program brought to you by DBSA made possible through the support of Rebecca’s Dream® Foundation.

Originally published: October 19, 2016
Want more of The Mighty?
You can find even more stories on our Home page. There, you’ll also find thoughts and questions by our community.
Take Me Home