The co-creator of “Rick and Morty” has great advice for dealing with depression

When a fan reached out to Dan Harmon on Twitter for advice on dealing with depression, he had an amazing response:

“For One: Admit and accept that it’s happening. Awareness is everything. We put ourselves under so much pressure to feel good. It’s okay to feel bad. It might be something you’re good at! Communicate it. DO NOT KEEP IT SECRET. Own it. Like a hat or jacket. Your feelings are real.”

“Two: try to remind yourself, over and over, that feelings are real but they aren’t reality. Example: you can feel like life means nothing. True feeling. Important feeling. TRUE that you feel it, BUT…whether life has meaning? Not up to us. Facts and feelings: equal but different”

Harmon’s advice was shared and retweeted thousands of times.

“’Feelings are real but they aren’t reality’ you have no idea how much you just helped me. In an instant that statement out so much anxiety to peace. Thank you.”

Perhaps most importantly, he emphasized you shouldn’t deal with depression on your own.

“The most important thing I can say to you is please don’t deal with it alone. There is an incredible, miraculous magic to pushing your feelings out. Even writing “I want to die” on a piece of paper and burning it will feel better than thinking about it alone. Output is magical.”