Anyone who suffers from depression knows that explaining it to people who don’t struggle with the illness can be extremely difficult. When you have depression, it’s something that is often times difficult to manage and control. And, when it gets really bad, you struggle with ways to cope and deal with it. Some of the biggest celebrities and influencers actually suffer from depression, although they may not seem as though they do. Like, for example, writer, producer, and voice actor Daniel Harmon who is also the creator of the hit cartoon show, “Rick and Morty.” One Twitter user decided to ask Harmon if he had any advice for dealing with depression – and, while we’d assume this tweet could have gotten lost amongst the thousands of tweets Harmon receives, his answer was not only kind but, also, extremely insightful for those who do suffer from the illness.
@danharmon do you have advice for dealing with depression
— charming taint man (@chojuroh) November 28, 2017
Harmon started out by saying that the first step is admitting there is a problem.
For One: Admit and accept that it’s happening. Awareness is everything. We put ourselves under so much pressure to feel good. It’s okay to feel bad. It might be something you’re good at! Communicate it. DO NOT KEEP IT SECRET. Own it. Like a hat or jacket. Your feelings are real.
— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) November 28, 2017
He then continued to say that we must separate truth and reality from our feelings. Having feelings is real and they are valid, but they are not always the end-all, be-all of life.
Two: try to remind yourself, over and over, that feelings are real but they aren’t reality. Example: you can feel like life means nothing. True feeling. Important feeling. TRUE that you feel it, BUT…whether life has meaning? Not up to us. Facts and feelings: equal but different
— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) November 28, 2017
He also stated that seeking help or outside intervention is incredibly important. Finding ways to cope and handle your depression will also aid in your healing.
The most important thing I can say to you is please don’t deal with it alone. There is an incredible, miraculous magic to pushing your feelings out. Even writing “I want to die” on a piece of paper and burning it will feel better than thinking about it alone. Output is magical.
— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) November 28, 2017
He went on and got even deeper, saying your thoughts will manifest unless you let them out. Any way that you can do so – drawing, writing, speaking – will help them be set free and not “echo off the walls of your skull.”
Dark thoughts will echo off the walls of your skull, they will distort and magnify. When you open your mouth (or an anonymous journal or blog or sketchpad), these thoughts go out. They’ll be back but you gotta get em OUT. Vent them. Tap them. I know you don’t want to but try it.
— Dan Harmon (@danharmon) November 28, 2017
Twitter users were not only grateful for Harmon’s advice but opened up about their own depression, as well.