I'm 13, and have been struggling with depression for most of my life. One thing I find insanely hard to answer is when my parents or friends ask me what makes me happy. Depression has made me so out of touch with my emotions that I don't even remember what it feels like to be happy. To make the situation even worse, my whole life, I have been able to feel others emotions as strongly as if not more expressively than them, so there are so many instances where I don't know if the emotions i'm feeling are mine or someone else's. It often feels like i'm strapped to a chair in a tiny glass room. The world is moving by so fast, right outside the walls, but I can't join in. And then peoples expectations of me block the air supply, and if I try to scream for help, no one hears. And I'm left trapped in a little glass room, slowly suffocating.

This is totally me. I often don't feel depressed, but I can't bring myself to do the things I need to do. The situation is compounded by PTSD. Some days I just sit inside and can't move. I get overwhelmed by the number of things I "need" to do in a day (they often don't actually need to be done on a particular day). My brother suggested that I choose only one thing to do in a day and this has helped. If I can do one thing, then I can often do another thing as well. Or my son comes over to help (I often don't need help, just some moral support). It's hard to live this way.

I struggle with depression and have confronted the impossible task. One thing that sometimes works is to do just a little. Say I need to make a dozen phone calls. If I can't I tell myself to do one call. Sometimes that first call breaks the cycle and then the rest comes. Doesn't work all the time, but it does work sometime.

OMG this is me, this is definitely something that doesn’t get mentioned much. Thank you.

I'm beginning to realize that I have been depressed for a Very Long Time. My impossible task was the kitchen. I'd get it clean and under control, and then it'd just slowly become a swirling vortex of entropy and I'd get overwhelmed and would just be like "I have no kitchen..." But then my husband died, and I moved back into my parents' house and no longer have to worry about the kitchen. I also got on an antidepressant.

Making my bed, putting clothes on draws, sometimes even brushing my teeth

Sometimes you're scrolling for a laugh and you stumble upon a nugget of truth and relatability that you needed to see. Then you exhale a breath you didn't realize you were holding. These things matter.

Love to all my fellow BPs. You guys are the greatest. Sharing your stories helps so much. The tasks are still impossible, but it means so ch to know I'm not alone in this. Up votes to everyone!

This actually explains a lot. I had a very close friend in middle school, but as we approached graduation, she started becoming unable to do very simple things. She couldn't pack her bag right, she couldn't take notes, she couldn't do things that were simple for the other classmates. She'd joke and laugh about it, but something always felt off. At first, I thought it was because she had ADHD, like I did (and still do), and tried to help her focus by teaching her strategies I was taught. She graduated with low to mid C's, and we eventually lost touch. Looking back now, with these facts and the way she would behave when we hung out, I think she really could have been depressed. I wish I could have recognized it and tried to help in some way. I hope she's doing better now...

Thank goodness someone wrote about it. A whole argument with my husband - he refuses to understand it. I've explained it exactly like this... he just keeps repeating "Well, I do things because they have to be done" - and I respond "So do I... but sometimes I just can't do them" and he just... absolutely refuses to understand that, yes... when it hits... my depression **does** actually make my ability to do certain things far more difficult ... even impossible ... and that yes... it DOES affect me more than it does him because *I have depression and he does not*. He moves his mouth, says he "understands" I have it... but when I try to explain things like this... he just gets offended and says "Well **I** do it because it HAS to be done." and he just repeats that over... and over... and over...

You get this in anxiety too! It's so much fun, especially when the impossible task is turning in a project you've already done, but for some reason, it feels like the most stressful thing in the world to give it to the teacher, so you get a 0. :,)

My mom just passed away and it seems almost like I’m paralyzed by anxiety?? It’s very strange. Impossible task is an awesome description. Im one that will never ask for help, I’ll just sit here lost. My friend came over and made phone calls for me;)). I seriously couldn’t even handle talking on the phone. It really meant the world to me. Little thing -big help!!!

Rarely something has hit home so very hard as this post. I always thought it was just me being useless and incapable.

Thank you for posting this. I didn't realize that my occasional feelings about not being able to do things was related to my depression and anxiety. Sometimes knowing where something is coming from is enough to overcome that feeling.

Thank you for this post - I wish more people could understand this aspect of depression. I remember a day when I was hungry and walked into the kitchen to get something to eat. But I couldn't think of how to go about making anything so I decided on a cup of tea. But I couldn't decide which cup to use. So I sat down on the floor and cried. I remember sitting on the bottom step crying because I needed to use the loo which was at the top of the stairs, but I couldn't climb the stairs. Eventually I crawled up. One slow step at a time. I sometimes forget how far I've come and how much I owe the many, many people who helped me get here. Beaming good wishes to them all rn xxx

I became depressed few years ago because I got sick very early(I had only 20 years)and I'm still struggling with several illnesses.I gained a lot of pounds because of one of my illnesses,my boyfiend is not much of a support and even my friends abandoned me when I got sick...I was traped inside a cold,stone fortress of my own mind,but one simple thing changed my life for the better.I found an abandoned,skinny,kitten few months ago and in that moment I realized how selfish and weak I am,I have a roof over my head,food and ability to speak and this poor little kitten had nothing when I found him but he still did show love and appreciation.I brought him home,found a purpose,realized I will be taking care of one,tiny being and guess what?Most of my pains left me.I lost a lot of weight and I am breathing again,my health is getting better...The point is you have to find even a tiny purpose for yourself and that will chase away a depression.It starts with a small thing...

I am so grateful for this article. Maybe now I can lighten up on myself, and try loving myself more. I can relate to most of what is mentioned. Laundry, bills, even going outside. Oh, and the sleeping. This article has given me hope. I don't know what to do now, however at least I know I am not lazy. Seems a sad state of affairs at 74 yrs old.

Coping with chronic illness has reawakened my problems with depression. I went back into the ‘pit’ again and haven’t been able to pull myself out. My husband wanted to join the YMCA in our town to work out and I begrudgingly agreed. I knew it would help but I was surprised anyway, I felt better and more energetic even after just halfheartedly and somewhat grumpily going along. I know sitting in a chair doesn’t make me happy but it was all I had the energy for until we started doing this. I know it won’t work for everyone but it is more than the exercise. I have a Schwinn Airdyne stationary bike, yoga mat and treadmill (holds my yarn) at home. It is the community, getting out of the house, shoot just watching the little kids play basketball. Just not being isolated anymore. On top of feeling generally better about myself for actually getting moving. still sad but working on it.

this will actually be my first post ever on BP, but i wanted to offer you all support and understanding. for many, depression is an episode or period of their lives. for me, it has been 30+ years of torture and frustration. i've tried everything that's always recommended, and i am on medication that keeps me stable, but i honestly don't know what being happy IS. i have happy moments, sure, but every day is a struggle to get out of bed, get dressed, do household chores... and it only worsened when i became physically disabled. i wish more people understood that it isn't as simple as "just think positive" or "exercise more" or "take this medicine."

Suddenly feel less lonely now :)

My mom sent this to me and my brother, asking if there was any part we could identify with and........there wasn't a single part of this that DID NOT resonate with me.......And the comments as well..............Annoyingly my Impossible Task is sometimes ASKING FOR HELP......

Thank you for this!

I'm autistic and have had depression since I was about twelve, EVERYTHING is an impossibility.

Yes, I've felt it many times and been left so confused I don't know what to do or how to start completely stymied and left sitting unable to act. I'm so glad someone has been able to point this out, our voices aren't heard, people who don't understand depression are the ones with the voices. One thing puzzles me, what are 'depression commercials'??

I had a bad case of this for the past 13 months. My impossible task was sending in paperwork to get name changed on an account, something I've been meaning to do for 11 years, and finally decided I was really, really going to do it....13 months ago. I finally got it done end of December. Yay! Taking Vitamin D regularly the past 6 weeks was like a miracle.

So true! Laundry that's never folded, mail that accumulates in the mailbox for months, inability to make phone calls... And yes, that little voice inside my head in not helping when it's telling me I'm just lazy :(

I'm always amazed to hear when people have such willing and caring support around them. That is something to cherish. I have suffered depression my whole life and I don't see that in my world. I have plenty of people to who tell me in one snide way or another to take care of myself or get therapy. But I can't recall anyone ever offering me help to do small things. Then as the youngest of 5, I am also now the primary caretaker of my 80 yr old mother. And though, she's able to care for herself mostly, she lives with me and is a cantankerous person. I have struggled and begged my siblings to help in any way they can. I have asked for money because I do come up short quite a bit and two of my siblings are fairly well off. They always say, "well you need to be more specific. what do you want help with?" or "what do you need money for" My mother and I just share expenses and won't let each other fall flat. But why isn't "to ease the pressure" a good enough answer... *sigh*

I just got my period. I'm depressed now