--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was surprised that every single person…" description: "\"“I was surprised that every single person I talked to had a story about how depression had affected their lives. Carmelita Gamboa, a teenager in Michig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/brent-runyon-36124_depression_i-was-surprised-that-every-single-person_2979295.jpg" --- # I was surprised that every single person I talked to had a… ![“I was surprised that every single person I talked to had a story about how depression had affected their lives. Carmelita Gamboa, a teenager in Michigan, later wrote to me, "The sad thing is, after a while, it starts to feel like home". It does, doesn't it?” quote by Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/brent-runyon-36124_depression_i-was-surprised-that-every-single-person_2979295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/brent-runyon-36124_depression_i-was-surprised-that-every-single-person_2979295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/brent-runyon-36124_depression_i-was-surprised-that-every-single-person_2979295.jpg) > ““I was surprised that every single person I talked to had a story about how depression had affected their lives. Carmelita Gamboa, a teenager in Michigan, later wrote to me, "The sad thing is, after a while, it starts to feel like home". It does, doesn't it?”” [Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-runyon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many people experience depression as a familiar, uncomfortable home, making it hard to recognize its impact. **In simple terms:** Depression can feel like a familiar place. Key Takeaway Seek help before it feels normal. Themes mental health empathy stigma personal narrative Mood reflective empathetic Type cautionary thought‑provoking When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - self-reflection - community outreach Key Concepts psychology social support Questions to Reflect On - How does familiarity affect your perception of depression? - What steps can break the comfort of this “home”? A Different Perspective Normalization can hinder seeking treatment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Affected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-affected-4625827/) [Lives Carmelita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-carmelita-4625829/) [Single person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-person/) [Story Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-depression-4625828/) [Wrote Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-sad-473521/) ## Related quotes > [“If I could go back in time to when I wrote sad little poems, I’d punch myself right in the fucking face because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-could-go-back-in-time-to-when-i-wrote-sad-little-poems-i-d-punch/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I have it in my head that when we’re born, God writes things down on our hearts. 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That maybe that’s what the color is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-runyon/i-think-that-maybe-if-human-beings-have-souls-that-maybe-their-souls/) [Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-runyon/) > [So what does that make you think about God? I think that maybe, if human beings have souls, that maybe their souls are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-runyon/so-what-does-that-make-you-think-about-god-i-think-that-maybe-if/) [Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-runyon/) > [Before everything, I used to do this thing when I was upset-I used to take all my feelings and push them down inside me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-runyon/before-everything-i-used-to-do-this-thing-when-i-was-upset-i-used-to/) [Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-runyon/) > [Now I'm trying to work outside first person. 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Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) [Kirsten Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gilchrist/) > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) [Heidi Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ames/) > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Why in depression" "If we are human, why not have the right to smile, Why in depression, young, and beautiful as earth, Why in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanilsa-pena/why-in-depression-if-we-are-human-why-not-have-the-right-to-smile-why/) [Yanilsa pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanilsa-pena/) > [“Depression makes me stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayamalan/depression-makes-me-stronger/) [Shayamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayamalan/) > [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/) [Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Repression will provoke rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-williamson/repression-will-provoke-rebellion/) [Hugh Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-williamson/) > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. 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