Join the Fun!

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Likewise, when being around someone with depression, we don't know what to say, and emotions of sadness, irritation, fear, guilt, and even anger may occur. These feelings obscure the person who needs our support, and instead of being there for them, we shake those feelings off by saying, "it'll be fine, you're just tired" or something of that sort. And it helps—we get rid of the approaching anxiety of feeling uncomfortable, but simultaneously, we hurt the person we wanted to support in the first place, burying them deeper into their depression and the feeling of not being heard.

Pull Yourself Together!

Final score:

32points

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It Could Be Worse!

Final score:

32points

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So I wondered, how can I facilitate spreading the message and hopefully informing people which phrases to avoid saying to someone with depression if you want to show support? Contemplating the form of the message I wanted to share, I realized that, as an illustrator, my weapon of choice is visuals. Therefore, I wanted to illustrate the phrases as they feel to me, make them literally visible to the eye of someone who might not have been able to see them before. I intentionally chose a bright and optimistic color palette to give the illustrations a sense of cognitive dissonance with the tone of the message. I wanted to juxtapose the toxic phrase with the illustration and an explanation of how this phrase affects a person with depression.

But You Have A Beautiful Life!

Final score:

32points

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Be Positive!

Final score:

30points

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My hope is that these posters make visible that which is often overlooked, provide a glimpse into the reality of depression, and help support those suffering from the illness.

You're Being Dramatic!

Final score:

28points

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Be Grateful For What You Have!

Final score:

28points

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I am really thankful to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America for their support on this initiative and a psychologist and Gestalt therapist Anastasia Plokhikh for her support and being the editor on this project!

You Think Only Of Yourself!

Final score:

26points

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This Too Shall Pass!

Final score:

25points

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#10

Quit Whining!

Final score:

25points

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#11

You Are What You Think!

Final score:

21points

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#12

You Need A Kick In The Rear!

Final score:

21points

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Yuliya is an illustrator, director, motion designer and a fine artist from Dnipro, Ukraine, based in NYC. In her visual style she leans towards the minimalist aesthetic of geometric lines, clean composition and bold colors, at times incorporating organic shapes and dynamic movement. Her work encompasses creating art for products, editorial, advertising, video and interactive.

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My name is Aelita and I have been an Editor for Bored Panda since 2019. I spend my days working with my amazing team and making articles the best they can be. Fantasy and magic have always ruled over my world, from movies to TV shows, to Video Games to tabletop games like Dungeos and Dragons, I try to find magic in every part of my life. Writing is a big part of me too, I hope to publish a fantasy novel one day. I also enjoy playing guitar and singing, as music always help me to get in a great mood. I have an adorable German Shepherd named Hela and we get into all kinds of adventures together.

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What do you think ?

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Luther von Wolfen 3 years ago

Yes. More awareness, please. Phrases like these are one more reason I avoid people when I'm depressed - well, I avoid people who have never had depression. People who have experienced know that the right thing to say is usually nothing.

16points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you for the comment! People usually just don't know what to say and think some of these phrases will be supportive, so I hope the posters will bring attention to the fact that not only they don't help support but actually harm people with depression.

8points

Sarah 3 years ago

I really love the concept of these posters. I think they are great! I didn't really get at first that they were meant to show those phrases aren't true, then I read your description. I feel people who don't understand depression might not get it, since they believe those phrases are accurate. I would add something like 'Fact Check:' to the statements underneath, so it's obvious that the above isn't true. Nice work!

8points

lorenramer 3 years ago

Sarah +

0points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you Sarah, that's a great point!

0points

tegan1994 3 years ago

Sarah like

0points

runningonjava 3 years ago

Sarah +

0points

yamatokatsuha09000 3 years ago

Sarah what

0points

chvkarthick 3 years ago

Sarah what

0points

andreajmckim 3 years ago

Sarah yes

0points

Susan Mollenhour 3 years ago

Sarah good

0points

tomjohn216 3 years ago

Sarah follower

0points

kyletallent 3 years ago

Sarah Good response!

0points

The Harry Potter person 3 years ago

My friend has depression, and so many people say these things to her daily. I showed her this, and she was very grateful someone was raising awareness about it! Thank you for this, and the drawing are amazing!

7points

earringnut 3 years ago

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just listen.

4points

Aj Grimes (them/they) 3 years ago

Damn, i get told this stuff almost every day. also people say that my depression isn't real and I was making it up. Maniac depression is real.

5points

Pearl Of the SeaWing RainWings 3 years ago

I don't have depression, and I've never understood if it was more of a way of thinking or an illness, until now. Thank you so much!! I don't want to be "that person" like the orange colored ones in the pictures. Plus also great job with the artwork!!

4points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much for the comment! I can't say how happy I am that my work helps with making this issue heard!

1point

Chrissy C. 3 years ago

The one that gets me is, "Just get over it." Like it's a choice to suffer from a chemical imbalance and feel miserable all the time. I would, if I could.

3points

Uncommon Boston Premium 3 years ago

Do people know how insulting these statements are? They remind me of, "God only gives you what you can handle." and similar statements. I told someone once, "Go climb Mt Everest, because that is how difficult it would be for me to take a walk." Oh, and TRY HARDER! Such an insult; I choose to feel this way? Is that what you tell a person who lost a leg? Try harder. Of course not. But since my handicap is invisible and difficult to understand, it is easier to ignore it and expect me to manage like everyone else. I plan to share this with my family.

2points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much for writing this!

0points

Kateryna 3 years ago

I feel like most of those phrases are coming from people who want to help, but don't know how. Thanks for sharing

2points

Tabitha L 3 years ago

I'm not sure these people want to help. They want the depressed person to magically be better because of some platitudes.

2points

Jade Lynn - Panda's Brat 3 years ago

Some people lack empathy so badly.

2points

sylvantic 3 years ago

how to help your mental state: 1. try to talk to people and interact. it will suck, but being alone makes things worse. 2. turn on a light. open a window. don't sit in a dark room 3. try to get outside some. 4. take care of yourself. you may not want to take a shower now, but then you'll end up putting it off until you can't remember when you last washed your hair. 5. read a book. don't just sit alone in your bedroom on the computer. read a book or something in a public space.

1point

Tabitha L 3 years ago

This is wonderfully done. Thank you for sharing it with us.

1point

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much, Tabitha!

0points

Ana Vaquer Perez 3 years ago

Thank you so much for this! I personally dont have depression but i have ADHD and people tell me stuff like this. ALL. THE. TIME. At one point your just like, ok live at least one year with it and tell me how it feels, please and thank you. Im so glad your bringing awareness to this.

1point

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much for the comment, Anna! I feel like ADHD is even more obscured that depression, so I have no idea how difficult it is for you to handle comments like these!

0points

MistyCat 3 years ago

Instead of these, try, "is there anything I can do?" "Are you okay?" "Do you need..." and so on. May not be the best, but better than "yOu'Re sO dRAmAtIC"

0points

Julia King 3 years ago

Is it normal to feel trapped in a tornado of negativity when you´re depressed? I feel that way all the time.

0points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you all for sharing and being so sincere here! I hope these works give at least some sense of comfort and support. Please, take care of yourselves and don't let anyone put you down and make you feel pain, shame and guilt because of depression and anxiety! And, please, turn for support to professionals, it's extremely important that you're not alone in this and have someone who can help you up step by step!

0points

Uncommon Boston Premium 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

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Luther von Wolfen 3 years ago

16points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

8points

Sarah 3 years ago

8points

lorenramer 3 years ago

Sarah +

0points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you Sarah, that's a great point!

0points

tegan1994 3 years ago

Sarah like

0points

runningonjava 3 years ago

Sarah +

0points

yamatokatsuha09000 3 years ago

Sarah what

0points

chvkarthick 3 years ago

Sarah what

0points

andreajmckim 3 years ago

Sarah yes

0points

Susan Mollenhour 3 years ago

Sarah good

0points

tomjohn216 3 years ago

Sarah follower

0points

kyletallent 3 years ago

Sarah Good response!

0points

The Harry Potter person 3 years ago

7points

earringnut 3 years ago

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just listen.

4points

Aj Grimes (them/they) 3 years ago

Damn, i get told this stuff almost every day. also people say that my depression isn't real and I was making it up. Maniac depression is real.

5points

Pearl Of the SeaWing RainWings 3 years ago

4points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much for the comment! I can't say how happy I am that my work helps with making this issue heard!

1point

Chrissy C. 3 years ago

The one that gets me is, "Just get over it." Like it's a choice to suffer from a chemical imbalance and feel miserable all the time. I would, if I could.

3points

Uncommon Boston Premium 3 years ago

2points

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much for writing this!

0points

Kateryna 3 years ago

I feel like most of those phrases are coming from people who want to help, but don't know how. Thanks for sharing

2points

Tabitha L 3 years ago

I'm not sure these people want to help. They want the depressed person to magically be better because of some platitudes.

2points

Jade Lynn - Panda's Brat 3 years ago

Some people lack empathy so badly.

2points

sylvantic 3 years ago

1point

Tabitha L 3 years ago

This is wonderfully done. Thank you for sharing it with us.

1point

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much, Tabitha!

0points

Ana Vaquer Perez 3 years ago

1point

Yuliya Osyka (Post author) 3 years ago

Thank you so much for the comment, Anna! I feel like ADHD is even more obscured that depression, so I have no idea how difficult it is for you to handle comments like these!

0points