'This is what depression looks like': Viral post shows how difficult the little things are with depression

Hope Schreiber
·Writer

If you are one of the 300 million people in the world who suffer from depression, then you know life is sometimes about small victories.

Being able to wake up at a reasonable time, shower, brush your teeth — these are things that some take for granted. Others struggle to complete the simple tasks, and when they don’t, they’re even more disappointed in themselves.

One woman’s recent post on Facebook showed a side of depression that isn’t often talked about.

Brittany Ernsperger shared a photo of recently washed dishes on her kitchen counter and wrote, “This is what depression looks like.”

The mother of four admits that for two weeks she would walk by her growing pile of dishes; she knew they needed to be washed, and she wanted to do them, but depression had its hold.

“It sucked me in. Like a black hole,” Brittany wrote. Every day that went by made her feel more defeated, and the failure to do such a simple task made her depression worsen. She sat on the kitchen floor and cried.

Brittany wrote about feelings many can relate to — the feelings of worthlessness, failure, incompetence, and apathy. You can’t bring yourself to do the dishes — but every day you don’t do the dishes is another failure, another example of why you’re worthless. Depression is often a Catch-22.

Brittany, who recently started a blog called “The Relatable Mom,” wrote: “Depression is something that ‘strong’ people don’t talk about because they don’t want people to think they’re ‘weak.’

“You’re not weak. You’ve been strong for so long and through so many things, that your body needs a break.

“I don’t even care if the only thing you did today was put deodorant on. I’m proud of you for it. Good job. I’m in your corner. I’m on your side.”

It’s a simple gesture that anyone who faces this everyday struggle can appreciate.

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