Dating with Depression: Why You Can’t Give Up the Fight (Even If It Feels Impossible)

Depression is a Monster (But You’re the Soldier in the Front Line)

It’s not just sadness. It’s a war you can’t walk away from. Some days it looks like numb as hell, others like a crushing weight. You’ve already tried every goddamn trick: drugs, therapy, exercise, mushrooms—the whole nine yards. If you’re still standing, give yourself a damn medal. You’re not broken. You’re battling a system that’s hardwired to make you feel like a failure, and you’re still here. Good for you.

You Think You’re Hopeless. That’s the Lie.

Depression doesn’t care if you feel hopeless. It’s what it wants. Every time you isolate yourself—hiding in your apartment, pretending you’re not broken—it wins. You’re not broken. You’ve got friends. Even if you’re not a social butterfly, the fact that you’ve made some bonds proves you’re capable of better connections. The problem? You’re letting the depression call all the shots instead of playing the game on your terms.

Stop Wallowing Like Eeyore and Start Acting Like a Leader

Ever see Eeyore? That’s you in your head—grumbling, dragging, existing. But here’s the kicker: his friends still show up. They don’t fix him. They accept him. That’s what you need. Real people. Relationships that don’t demand a smiley face. People who see you for who you are—the real you, not some manufactured version. But this isn’t about being a people-pleaser. It’s about owning your limits. You show up half the time? Fine. You can’t talk for ten minutes? That’s fine. Don’t exhaust yourself into oblivion chasing connections. Relationships aren’t Olympic events. They’re about showing up when you can and knowing when to let the rest go.

Energy Is Your Currency. Spend It Wisely.

Depression robs you of fuel—your energy is a tank you can’t magically refill. You’ve got to track it like a warlord counts bullets. Who’s worth a full clip? Who’s a single bullet? Learn which events drain you and which ones give you back a sliver of life. You’re not a machine. You’re a warrior. Use your energy where it counts.

Your Friends Are Your Army. Keep Fighting.

Your friends? They’re not here to fix you. They’re your allies. They’ll still stand with you even when you can’t stand straight. But you? You better not walk away from them. Every time you cancel an event, another part of you dies. The loneliness sharpens the depression blade, and you’ll start to feel like you don’t deserve the light. That’s the lie. You do deserve it. The question is whether you’ll stop letting the depression write the script.

Shut Up and Keep Moving—Even If You Hate It.

You don’t wanna go to pickleball. You don’t wanna talk to people. But here’s the hard truth: if you stop moving, you quit. Full stop. Depression turns you into a goddamn sloth in a world that demands momentum. One day you’re crawling out of bed. Next week, you’re too fried to even stand. You don’t want to hear this? Fine. But you can’t ignore it if you want to live.

You’re Not a Project. You’re a Person.

People who try to fix you? They’re not your people. Relationships aren’t about rehabilitating broken parts of yourself. They’re about finding folks who see the whole damn picture—even the dark corners. You don’t need to fix your depression to find love. You need to find someone who loves you despite it. And if they can’t handle being with someone who struggles—that’s not your issue. That’s their loss.

Electroshock Therapy Is a Real Option—And It’s Not the ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ You Fear.

You think ECT sounds like something out of a horror movie? It’s not. It’s a tool. A strong one. But if it’s on the table and your doctors say it’s worth a shot? Stop letting the fear of “shock treatment” control you. You’ve already tried everything else. Maybe it’s time to stop waiting and start acting before the depression kills you soft.

Keep the F**k Going. This Won’t Fix Overweekends.

This isn’t about a cure. It’s about a war of attrition. Every day you walk out the door, you’re winning a battle. Some days, it’ll feel like you’re just surviving. That’s fine. Survival is still progress. The moment you stop showing up is the moment you let the depression win. So grind. Day by day. Show up half-assed if you have to. You’re not a failure for it. You’re still alive. That’s more than enough to fight with.