Suffering From Depression? Make A Friend!
Let's face it, depression can suck big-time and in more ways than one. It can also make you feel like you're all alone. Here, on this site, in this forum, in this thread, let's each find a friend! Because you're not alone, this entire community is here for you.
So come along, post your name/username, your age, a hobby, one random fact about you and anything you like! If you want, maybe a little background regarding your depression?
NB. You are under no obligation to have to post any of the aforementioned, do whatever you are comfortable with, okay? You're amazingly strong, sweet pea.
Let's all find a friend!
Hi I'm LittleLotte, but you can call me Lotte. It's not my real name but it's from a quote from the Andrew Lloyd Webber's version of 'Phantom of the Opera' - "Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing" because that's often the best way to describe my own thoughts, I'm often thinking about everything and nothing all at once.
I'm 33, currently unemployed due to my mental health and I live with my fur-baby (my cat) called Trixie. My main hobby is listening to music, I have it on almost 24/7, and I like a wide variety of genres but my favourites tend to be goth, EBM, metal and musicals.
Random fact about me: I currently have bright green hair!
A bit about the history of my depression: Thinking back, I've had depression since childhood, possibly triggered by my parents divorce. And over the years it's got worse due to several traumatic life events. I've tried every medication possible with no effect (or had to stop due to persistent side effects) and had a few different therapies with only a little success (for various reasons, it's too long to discuss now!).
So that's me.
@LittleLotte, awesome that you're here! I love musicals, too ^^; What are your favourite ones (because I know that it's almost impossible to have only one)? I gather that one of them is Webber's Phantom...?
Best wishes!
@Celaeno Yup, you are correct that Phantom is my favourite of all time! But I like so many others too, like Les Miserables, Miss Siagon, Rocky Horror, War of the Worlds, Hair, Cats, Whistle Down the Wind.... the list could go on!
@LittleLotte, hah, some of those I love, too ^^ Thanks for posting, lovely.
@LittleLotte
thanks a lot for responding to the tag and sharing, well Lotte is a very nice name and meaning!
and a green bright hair, you are such a brave girl, i wish to be like u! i always admired ppl who r able to make such things, i'm so scared to do anything not even close to that, although i WISH to do it, but now i'm a little more encouraged :D
it's so nice to know more about you, thanks really 
@politeCup86 I used to have thigh-length black hair, which was a pain in the backside to dye any colour, other than various shades of black!! Then I had it all cut off for charity and discovered it was much easier to bleach and dye shorter hair 
I'm quite proud of cutting my hair, because everyone was telling me not to and that I'd regret it. Then I did it, and wish I'd done it sooner. So just do the things you're scared of (I know, easier said than done sometimes) because it's never as bad as you think. (I need to take my own advice more LOL!)
Awesome thread @ZaraSmiles ❤
Hello everyone! Most people on this site call me Eno, or enobeano, or guimave, or marshmallow, or enoberry, or nibbles, or marshmellon, or emo, or just no, or enotherapy, or enobae, or typotwinni, err you get the point you can get creative with what you call me xD I'm very silly and make a lot of #EnoMoves which are silly moves that I make a lot, for example if someone says happy birthday to me I tend to reply with "you too" y'know, that kind of stuffles hehe. Aside from that I am an extrovert who has had depression (wierd, I know) and honestly being an extrovert and having depression is a different experience to say the least. I love making new friends, am a total forum worm and I do competitive swimming, partying (err yes it counts), and I am a YouTube addict. Totally. Hehe and I love music and would also love getting to know you all!
@NewRomantic677 I'm a YouTube addict too, and I'm suffering a bit as my phone has gone away for repairs so I can't watch videos in bed like I normally do!
What are your favourite YouTube channels? I love some of the cute ones like MegaBattie, and Cole & Marmalade, informative ones like ASAPScience, and comedy like Equals3.
@LittleLotte hehe i ADORE Superwoman, Marcus Butler, Joey Graceffa, Troye Sivan, Tyler Okley (#Troyler4ever) and music channels like KurtHugoSchnieder and OMG AsapScience <3 gah I feel you, watching YouTube in bed is definitely bae.
@NewRomantic677 Cool, I shall have to look some of those up... when I get my phone back (just watching on my computer isn't the same!)
@NewRomantic677, ASAPscience is great, I watch that, too ^^
Hi, @NewRomantic677 ^^ May I ask what are your experiences with depression? I know that it is very personal question, so please, don't feel obliged to answer it. I'm just curious, because you've mentioned that this illness is different on part of being extroverted. As I'm introvert myself I'm eager to learn what distinction you see regarding those two personality types.
Also, It's great to hear from you, lovely. All the best ❤️
@Celaeno lovely that's a pretty good question to ask, I'll try to answer it as best as I can :p
So to start off with, to me depression is depression, introverted depression or extroverted depression, it's all depression, so I guess being an extrovert with depression never really changed the depression itself- but it also did in a few aspects. Err maybe that didn't make sense, let me explain haha xD Basically my depression ,while identifiable as depression with typical symptoms of depression, was a lot more of an unexpected one. I still had the same greying disinterest and the slow hatred for things in general; I started hating me, my friends, getting out of bed, all of that. Everything was hard to do, which is also something most depressed people experience I suppose. In those senses my depression was depression. Now comes the "oh wait I'm also an extrovert" part. Cause I'm an extrovert and draw a lot of my happiness from being around people all the time, my depression was harder to seek out help for and easier to hide. Im already quite experienced with making the best out of a situation, acting, and in general trying to fit into social ladders, so hiding anything, including depression, came easily to me. I didn't stop hanging with my friends, I didn't stop doing any of the normal things I would do. I was still the class clown, the loud friend, the total person to laugh with, and I still went to parties and dates and had fun and all of that. It was like my depression had woven itself into a really big mask, and so it was impossible for my friends to even suspect that anything was wrong with me. If I had told them back then that I had depression, they probably wouldve laughed and thought I was making another joke, and frankly who could blame them, cause when someone who is an extrovert gets depressed you would expect to notice it- you'd expect a drastic change, but it doesn't work that way and that's why some people found my depression hard to believe. I think because of the nature of depression and because I'm an extrovert, the disbelief was a lot stronger and the support came a lot less readily when I was finally ready to speak up :) it's hard for some to believe an extrovert would have depression but she did, and now she's totally learning a new lesson from it everyday. I hope I was able to do justice to your question, it was a harder one to answer and my brain is fried, I'll admit it xD
Thank you for your lovely question Cel-bae-no ❤
@NewRomantic677, thanks so much for replying! Your insight is really valuable for me. I didn't want to imply that the depression doesn't have distinct, universal set of symptoms which doesn't differ regarding of one's personality. It is widely recognized illness and I don't want to undermine it in any way.
To strangers I'm behaving as an extroverted introvert which helps me to get through the fear of meeting new people, so I can understand in some way hiding "beneath a mask" thing. I recognize that it took a lof of bravery for you to admit that you feel low and need additional help when you present to the world as happy-go-lucky person. You're a strong one, lovely. I'm glad that I have a chance to talk with you ❤️
@NewRomantic677 I'm also a youtube addict :) I watch Markiplier most as well as Tyler Oakley (who I got to meet on his book tour, it was crazy) Troye Sivan, Shep689, Joey Graceffa, Dan and Phil, and some others here and there :)
@NewRomantic677
it's so nice to read your post dear, and i relate a lot to (extrovert who has had depression) and thanks a lot for explaining that, i mean you have described it beautifully!!
your posts in the forum are always so nice to read, the colors u choose always put a smile on my face, especially when u put each latter with a color! i mean AMAZING! i adore colors :D
you are just a great, inspiring human being! and i love all ur posts!
Thank you for the tag! :) Is it you :) politeCup86 who has lovingly tagged me? :) I can't really read some of the wordings here, not sure why, I believe it could be because some of the highlighted colours of the wordings won't show clearly when I use my handphone to read and reply now :)
I am an Asian female :), age 30 (coming to 31 this year). I was diagnosed with mild depression and anxiety when I was 19. Back then, I was struggling hard with heightened anxiety and panic issues so much that I decided to leave school. Many years have past and I don't seem to be able to let go the fact that I didn't finish it. I still struggle with confidence and esteem issues but feeling that I am getting better and better in these years. :)
I am down with a flu today, lovely people! I will have to get some sleep now to rest my body and mind... Hugs to each and every one of you here! Warmest love ❤️
@yellowAcres2128
Yellow!! yes it was me :D and nothing wrong with ur phone or eyes, it's just me to tagged ppl in WHITE hehehe so it won't show unless u highlighted it, it's a way i learned from @anomalia (she is just creative)
thank u for sharing with, u r a great SOUL and i love to tag u everywhere :D
i relate a lot to ur story especially the school one, i know the feeling of being too depressed to just miss all my uni exams and sit on the garden chairs outside the uni! feeling the time going slowly and uni is so quiet and i'm paralyzed to move.
i think one day i will finish, will join this hope with me :)
Get well soon dear, I just love u dear, no more words to be said or written and always love to read ur posts! it's so honest when u write, so smooth and simple and it just reach anyone's heart directly, not to mention the lovely nick name and pic!
Hope u will always feel the love u have from 7 cups to u 
@politeCup86 :) my mood is very low at this very moment for reasons I have already long know but always feel helpless to change it.. :) And I do not have any strength or energy to think about how to go about it.. :) But reading your message has lifted me up in this very moment :) Thank you so much *hugs to you* I am on the train on my way back home now from work. Am just so tired. Oh yes.. :) what you've mentioned about uni has triggered memories for me and now my heart feels heavy..:) yet, still, I love the fact you are able to speak words that so resonate with my heart and my feelings.. :) Thank you for you @politeCup86 :) *hugs* ❤️
@yellowAcres2128
sorry dear if i triggered anything, and sorry bcuz u feel low
(sitting next to u in the train, giving u a bear HUG, and holding ur heavy heart with u so it would be lighter and trying to lift u more UP and UP)
I love trains and maybe i have ride it only 3 times in my life, so i would really enjoy the ride :)
Thank you for always being extra kind with me, you are a very special person Yellow! please always know this fact
Yay, @yellowAcres2128! ^^ Great to hear from, and to learn part of your story, too. You have may struggled for a long time, but you are so strong to support everyone around you - you inspire me, lovely. I hope you had peaceful, relaxing dreams. All the best!
Hello everyone!
My name is Rebecca Emily (but I go by many nicknames and welcome any others you may or may not feel inclined to come up with) and I'm 17 years old. I've had depression as long as I can remember. I've never been diagnosed, but I can't remember a period in my life where I didn't feel sad or hopeless to some degree. It's become more and more apparent that I've got depression as I've gotten older, and this past year has definitely been the toughest one yet.
I love my cat, fried eggs, cheese, the forums, jazz music, and writing in my journal! I also enjoy drawing and painting but don't get to do this much, sadly.
Feel free to ask me any questions, and I'll ask you a question back! I'd love to get to know some of you!
Take care!
Hi, wonderful @RebeccaEmily ^^ You're incredibly kind person, I'm glad that decided to share a little bit of your story. May I ask is it your personal decision not to be diagnosed? Don't feel obliged to answer this, if it's too intimate. I'm just curious is it makes living for you easier, not wanting a label. Also, with which medium do you like to paint? Oil, watercolours? Do you have a certain art topic you want to be better at painting? Best wishes!
Hello @Celaeno, it's such a pleasure to meet you! I've seen you around quite often in the forums and the feed, and I'm always quite blown away by the dedication and the compassion you always demonstrate. I'm really glad that some sort of dialogue has started between us, as I truly find you to be a remarkable person!
The main reason I haven't been diagnosed isn't really because I haven't wanted to. For a while now, I've really wanted to get that diagnosis because I actually think it would be really validating, and also because it could open doors in terms of medications or treatments. The main reason is because I don't think I've even seen a doctor in at least 5 years. I've only been legally allowed to book appointments without a legal guardian present for just over a year now, and during this time, I've been dealing with my worst bouts of anxiety. This on top of having no time free to see a doctor, and it sadly just hasn't happened yet. I'm thinking I'll have the time to go soon, though, which makes me feel nervous, but also excited, I guess
Painting is something I do as a hobby; normally when I journal I'll also doodle, or do some quick sketches. Most of the painting I do is watercolour; I'll fill in some of the sketches I'm more fond of. I used to be much more into painting, and I would use acrylics and oil paints, but now I don't really have much time for that. It's something I've sort of wanted to explore more, but never really found the time.
Now, my question for you! Is there anything, whether it be an art form or a science, that you've wanted to explore more, but have never gotten to for whatever reason?
Take care Celaeno!
@RebeccaEmily, thanks so much for such kind words, love ^^
Also, thank you for replying. I apologize if I came as nosy, I appreciate the honesty in your answer. I think that there should be more accommodating system for people with anxiety to make medical appointments. I only avoid all of the doctors except my psychiatrist, but I do it more or less consciously and it is nothing compared to your bouts of anxiety you have to bravely manage. I'm sorry that it enables to seek assistance for yourself which might help. You're strong, though, regardless of those feelings. I believe that you are doing as much as you can to live the life you deserve. Sending you all of my strength to help you get through the days!
I'm always impressed by people who can paint with watercolour, because for me it is a very mysterious process of creation ^^; In the past I used to paint with oils (but it was a time when I thought I'll be an artist and before I realized I don't have any manual skills). It sounds like you have quite of fun working on it ^^
That's a fantastic question! I really took some time to ponder about it ^^; I'm a curious creature, so there's many topics of knowledge I take interest to learn about, but I mostly skim over them. And I realize that all of them are information, not a proper skill. And I think I never had an opportunity to learn how to play any music. In school I had a few classes on playing flute and I can interpret, after many trials and errors, a heard melody to the piano, but that's it. I can't read music sheet, I never own an instrument, one time in my life I had a chance to have fun with a piano when I visit a cousin. I admire the musical talent, especially playing on the drum set and violin. So this year I decided to be a generous and a bit frivolous and I bought my sister an ukulele as a Christmas gift. She has a similar musical yearnings, so she was overjoyed and we planned to learn how to play it together.
I hope you're taking a good care of yourself, lovely, because you're community's treasure ^^ Sending many hugs!
@RebeccaEmily
Hey Emil!, it's always a pleasure to see post from you! i always see your kind replies in the forums, you really care about a lot of ppl, you are so kind...
it's so nice to know more about u, fried eggs & cheese! hmmm i RELATE a lot hahahaha
please keep being AMAZING
Anyone can be my friend as long as they are cool and nice. I don't really get any messages so if you want to chat just send me a pm
@Fear333, it's a shame, because I'm not very cool ^^; Would you like to tell us more about yourself? For example, what's your favourite hobby?
Best wishes!
@Celaeno u should get cool then
@Fear333, I don't know, I'm pretty happy staying in the hot blaze of sunshine ^^
Hello! My name is Oli. I'm 14 years old, and I love music. It's my passion. I play the clarinet and the guitar, and I sing. I listen to music whenever I can as well :p
Something most people wouldn't know about me is that I'm a triplet (and I was born a trimester earlier than I should have been)
Yay, @Monarda!
*hugs*
It's awesome to see you. I hope you and your close ones are well. I'm sending best wishes to your siblings ^^
@Monarda that's so cool! I play guitar and sing as well, and I write music, too, sometimes! What songs or artists do you like, Oli? I could talk for ages about music, if you'd like to message me! 
thanks for tagging me, @politeCup86! it's a pleasure to be able to do this!
I'm buttonedprincess, and people tend to call me either button, or princess, or Jo/Josephine, or even meep! I'm 21 this year (groans, 6 more days) and I like to read a lot. I'm a HUUUUUUUGE history buff, and i love reading up on history-related goodies and watching loads of historical dramas too, if time and motivation/determination permits.
A random fact about me? I've battled with anxiety and depression for the better part of my life, and it's a huge contending factor that inhibits me from doing the best that i actually can. I've only been diagnosed last year (January 2015), to be exact, and it's good to feel validated with the diagnosis, and I'm trying to keep up my life and making depression a friend and know how to cope with it when those thoughts come.
I'm not gonna tag anybody (because i'm laazy), but thank you @zarasmiles for creating such an interesting forum post and i'd love to make more friends on here too! So feel free to drop me a PM - i'd love to hear from you x
@buttonedprincess, my wonderful, supportive partner in crime ^^ Happy that you've joined in this discussion - thank you for sharing part of your story with us. I see we have a similar perspective on coping with depression. It's a comforting way to realize that one's not alone in their struggle, that it happens world-wide. I believe you will conquer it, I really do.
I hope everything is bee's knees in your life ^^ Sending many hugs to you!
@Celaeno omg hey my dearest partner in crime and my dearest accountability partner! i'm so glad that someone sees depression in a similar way as i do - it's a very different manner, but it's also interesting.
we're all together in our struggle, and i'm so honored that we're going to do this together x
@buttonedprincess My Princess Josephine :D thanks a lot for accepting my tag and sharing, it's so nice of you to share with us.
U R A SYMBOL OF KINDNESS! like if someone asked me what kindness means i would tell them to go to 7cups and search ur name :D
i'm a HUGE fan of urs and you are such a caring, wise, sweet person, and you changed the way i look into depression since u shared with me this idea of becoming a friends with the depression, it's a huge favor u did to me 
it was a pleasure that i was able to chat with u :)
@politeCup86 my dearest politecup! you're the sweetest person i've ever talked to, and i'm so glad that you think of me in this way!
i'm really very honored to be able to chat with you - and likewise, i'm a HUGE fan of you too! i'm so glad that the goals forum post got us closer, and i'm really, really, happy to get to know you x
you've also motivated me to push forth and start exercising and walking more, and i'm so glad to have known you. :)
who says that members can't influence their listeners and help them with improving their circumstances and being the listeners' role models?
Hey there, My name on here is Salimash, throwback to an old character I had when I played world of warcraft. My real name is Adam, I've been battle depression for the last 7 or so years, I turned 19 in november. I've never been good at introductions, but this is the best I got!
I think the worst contributing factor to my depression is how easily and incredibly attached I can get to people after only knowing them for a short while, which tends to scare people off as I come off as clingy or needy, which causes them to distance me and in turn makes me feel horrid.
So yeah, that's who I am. If anyone ever wants to chat, feel free to message me! I'll do my best :)
Hi @Salimash! Nice to meet you ^^
Are you a fan of video games in general? If yes, do you have your favourite titles or genres?
Wish you all the best!
@Celaeno I love all video games, there has only been a very small amount of them that I didn't enjoy. I'll play pretty much anything I can get my hands on!
Thanks for taking the time to reply, and hope everything goes well for you
@Salimash Apparently I'm the same when it comes to making friends, I've been told I must "try too hard" to be friends which scares people off.
@LittleLotte Truly it sucks! Especially when people get the wrong idea, or you don't know how to explain yourself to them and instead of listening to an explanation or trying to understand it they just cut all ties
@Salimash Yeah, all I'm trying to do is be a good friend, the best friend I could possibly be, but people definitely get the wrong idea, or get scared, when someone actually tries to be friendly these days.
Hi guys, my name is keira and I only just found this place, I need someone to talk to because I can't talk to anyone I know.
I'm 17 and really like watching tv shows, and blink 182 :)
I struggle with getting frustrated very easy, and keeping in all my emotions until Im physically and mentally exhausted. My parents think it's okay to hit me because they think I need and deserve it and will make me a better person, and after they do they tell me to apologize to them because I spoke back. I have depression and don't know what to do.
@Sentimmental, it's nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear that your parents punish you that way - you don't deserve any kind of violence, not ever.
I also had problems with managing my anger during the whole of the teenage years. I was moody, constantly irritated and agressive, No one could understand why did I behave this way, and - what's worse - I didn't even understand it myself. For a long time I believe I was just a bad human and that I am destined to suffer. It was not true.
It's okay, lovely. All emotions are valid, there is no negative ones. You're not flawed or broken in any way. You can learn better ways to express and manage it. I don't pretend it will not take some time, but it is definitely possible. And it can make a whole difference for you, your wellbeing and relationships with others. I recommend you to start by reading this community guide.
I'm here for you if you want to talk. Sending you all of my hugs!
*hugs*
Hey
I'm from far off Canada with my heart in the US... Right there you see how my heart always split in half ;))
I love reading and writing, my poems are all pretty sad though :( sometimes I write happy ones dreaming and hoping for a better future!
And yes that's that I'm grateful for all the help I've gotten and to the place where I've reached
Amazing how many people out there actually care!! Wahoooo
Faith in humanity!!! #peaceout!
Hi @amusingDrum5926 ^^ Great to have you here! I'm also amazed how many kind people are there in the world. And I can see you're one of them ^^
Have you seen our poetry corner in the forums? Maybe it's something you'll be interested in participating. All the best!
