--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Way back when I was four, I became…" description: "\"“Way back when I was four, I became increasingly sickly and spiritless. My mother took me to the doctor, who poked and prodded and deliberated. In the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/alisa-smith-102779_depressed_way-back-when-i-was-four-i-became-increa_3001393.jpg" --- # Way back when I was four, I became increasingly sickly and… ![“Way back when I was four, I became increasingly sickly and spiritless. My mother took me to the doctor, who poked and prodded and deliberated. In the end, he pronounced, "She's depressed." Depressed at four years old. Why? No one had an answer…I have long evaded the real reasons for my…” quote by Alisa Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/alisa-smith-102779_depressed_way-back-when-i-was-four-i-became-increa_3001393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/alisa-smith-102779_depressed_way-back-when-i-was-four-i-became-increa_3001393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/alisa-smith-102779_depressed_way-back-when-i-was-four-i-became-increa_3001393.jpg) > ““Way back when I was four, I became increasingly sickly and spiritless. My mother took me to the doctor, who poked and prodded and deliberated. In the end, he pronounced, "She's depressed." Depressed at four years old. Why? No one had an answer…I have long evaded the real reasons for my discontentment. I still can't tell what they are, precisely, but I feel their presence most acutely in moments like this one with my grandmother, imagining a day in a big-box store that had replaced an old farm.”” Alisa Smith ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reflects on childhood depression, medical misdiagnosis, and unresolved emotional pain tied to family memories **In simple terms:** Childhood depression and lingering emotional wounds Key Takeaway Seek deeper self‑understanding Themes mental health family memory Mood reflective somber Type personal narrative memoir When to use this quote - therapy - journaling - family conversation Key Concepts psychology diagnosis intergenerational trauma Questions to Reflect On - How does early diagnosis affect later emotional health? - What role do family memories play in personal healing? A Different Perspective The narrative may lack context for broader relevance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't know I was depressed until years later. Actually, I went to the Minirth-Meier Clinic for ADD. I got tested for ADD. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/i-didn-t-know-i-was-depressed-until-years-later-actually-i-went-to/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [“I am, I guess, depressed. I guess I've been depressed for about twenty-four years. I can feel a better version of me somewhere in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/i-am-i-guess-depressed-i-guess-i-ve-been-depressed-for-about-twenty/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [It was really hard in the beginning when I first became pregnant it was just such a shocker. I was depressed for about five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-mann/it-was-really-hard-in-the-beginning-when-i-first-became-pregnant-it/) [Leslie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-mann/) > [To me, I don't write when I'm depressed. If I'm depressed, which is actually rare, I'm not doing anything, you know, and I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-me-i-don-t-write-when-i-m-depressed-if-i-m-depressed-which-is/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I eat cause I'm depressed and I'm depressed cause I eat XD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-eat-cause-i-m-depressed-and-i-m-depressed-cause-i-eat-xd/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Trust me, dear, I know depressed. Depressed sure have made me act like an ass, but it never split my face in two. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trust-me-dear-i-know-depressed-depressed-sure-have-made-me-act-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't beat yourself up over being depressed. Because then you're not only depressed, but you're also beating yourself up about it and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-quinn/you-can-t-beat-yourself-up-over-being-depressed-because-then-you-re/) [Brian Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-quinn/) > [“I would hear about other books that were popular, and they just seemed like they made people depressed. Why would I pay to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chessela-helm/i-would-hear-about-other-books-that-were-popular-and-they-just-seemed/) [Chessela Helm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chessela-helm/) > [No reason to feel depressed about being depressed. A depression can be a golden opportunity to collect the pieces and build ourselves anew. Global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-reason-to-feel-depressed-about-being-depressed-a-depression-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Depressed Although, my experience when I've been depressed, not only am I too depressed to sit down and write a song, I'm too depressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-westerberg/depressed-although-my-experience-when-i-ve-been-depressed-not-only-am/) [Paul Westerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-westerberg/) > [I'm hurt all the time. I don't want to cry for the way I feel inside. I just want someone to hold me... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-hurt-all-the-time-i-don-t-want-to-cry-for-the-way-i-feel-inside-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always very depressed, even when I was a youngster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-was-always-very-depressed-even-when-i-was-a-youngster/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) ## More by Alisa Smith > [“Did he really want to know? That at any given moment I see everyday life as only \_this big\_, the space between my finger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-smith/did-he-really-want-to-know-that-at-any-given-moment-i-see-everyday/) Alisa Smith Explore all 2 Alisa Smith quotes ## More Depressed quotes > [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I was always very depressed, even when I was a youngster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-was-always-very-depressed-even-when-i-was-a-youngster/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [I'm hurt all the time. I don't want to cry for the way I feel inside. I just want someone to hold me... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-hurt-all-the-time-i-don-t-want-to-cry-for-the-way-i-feel-inside-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For me being depressed means you can spend all day in bed, and still not get a good night's rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/for-me-being-depressed-means-you-can-spend-all-day-in-bed-and-still/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [Im not depressed. Just stressed and confused. Im not happy at all. I smile sometimes. And I laugh most times. I honestly dont know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-depressed-just-stressed-and-confused-im-not-happy-at-all-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is to short to being living with stress I'm to young to be all depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-to-short-to-being-living-with-stress-i-m-to-young-to-be-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've definitely had times in my life where I've been depressed and not able to do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-ve-definitely-had-times-in-my-life-where-i-ve-been-depressed-and/) [Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/) > [I got really depressed when Sidney Moncrief lost to Larry Bird. That really depressed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-got-really-depressed-when-sidney-moncrief-lost-to-larry-bird-that/) [Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/) > [I got into the music business thinking it was really radical, that it wasn't really a business at all, that it was a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-got-into-the-music-business-thinking-it-was-really-radical-that-it/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I was depressed. I knew I was lost, but I had no idea how to find myself again. It was as though I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/i-was-depressed-i-knew-i-was-lost-but-i-had-no-idea-how-to-find/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [Everything that gave her pleasure was small and depressed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/everything-that-gave-her-pleasure-was-small-and-depressed-him/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [If I don't do high-intensity interval training classes for an hour every morning and yoga a few days a week, I get depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davinia-taylor/if-i-don-t-do-high-intensity-interval-training-classes-for-an-hour/) [Davinia Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davinia-taylor/) [Browse all 1,033 Depressed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Way back when I was four, I became increasingly sickly and spiritless. 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