The Mighty Logo

To the Kid With Depression Comparing Himself to Everyone Else

The most helpful emails in health
Browse our free newsletters

Let’s face it, depression is a b*tch.

It robs your potential for happiness, and makes everything seem that much harder. If you’re like me, some days you feel like you don’t even have the strength to get out of bed. You merely go through the motions, counting down the clock as you anxiously anticipate finally being done with the school day. You check Instagram and see pictures of your classmates having a good time and smiling. You wonder why you can’t be happy like them. It seems so unfair, and as you go day in and day out every day simply going through the motions, you begin to wish there was more to life. 

In my own personal experience, I can tell you that the girl smiling in all her Instagram photos, she might very well be in the same boat as you are, she just puts a mask over her depression. And that’s what’s wrong with our society — we like to put a mask over everything. Perfection and a flawless image are strived for, and depression and other forms of mental illness are frowned upon. We are told that to be beautiful we must be look like models in magazines, and to be liked we must be outgoing. I’m sorry, but the people who say that are peddling lies. Truth is, the people who say that are no different from you and me. They have their own flaws, their own imperfections.

The only difference may be that they’re better at putting on a mask. I’m here to tell you today that you are beautiful just the way you are, and that you matter. You bring a unique and interesting prospective to the world, and the world needs that. If you can just hang in there, things will get better. 

Look around, and find beauty all around you. Reach out, and see there are others who are hurting, too.

You are not alone.

We want to hear your story. Become a Mighty contributor here.

Thinkstock via jeremyiswild

Originally published: February 25, 2017
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