--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've had a tremendous problem with…" description: "\"I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over. But depression is real.\" — Henri Nouwen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png" --- # I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life… ![“I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over. But depression is real.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png) > “I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over. But depression is real.” [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depression is a real, painful experience that many hide, yet it persists despite denial. **In simple terms:** Depression is real and painful. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and seek help for depression. Themes mental health stigma truth Mood empathetic somber Type spiritual mental‑health When to use this quote - therapy - support groups - personal reflection Key Concepts Existential spirituality healing Questions to Reflect On - How can you support someone with depression? - What steps help you confront it? A Different Perspective Denial can delay recovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [Depression is real, and that really hit me hard. I was going through a phase where I wasn't talking to no one. Only my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/depression-is-real-and-that-really-hit-me-hard-i-was-going-through-a/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [Post-partum depression is real and while I was told about it, I wasn't sure what to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameera-reddy/post-partum-depression-is-real-and-while-i-was-told-about-it-i-wasn-t/) [Sameera Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameera-reddy/) > [I feel for everybody that goes through it because depression is real, and it doesn't take much to put you in that state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/i-feel-for-everybody-that-goes-through-it-because-depression-is-real/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [Don't be scared to look for help. Depression is real... It's crazy, and all these guys, us athletes, that keep thinking we're superheroes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/don-t-be-scared-to-look-for-help-depression-is-real-it-s-crazy-and/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [“Depression is real. It happens. We go through it. Hold onto yourself in those moments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/depression-is-real-it-happens-we-go-through-it-hold-onto-yourself-in/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [Depression is real it continues to exist because of bullies. People become bullies because they were once bullied and they're angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/depression-is-real-it-continues-to-exist-because-of-bullies-people/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [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/) > [I realized that I had a serious problem with depression, and I went to a doctor and he gave me some medication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-summer/i-realized-that-i-had-a-serious-problem-with-depression-and-i-went-to/) [Donna Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-summer/) > [I hope that people who don't believe depression is a real thing will stop calling people crazy, because that's dismissive and not a medical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerby-jean-raymond/i-hope-that-people-who-don-t-believe-depression-is-a-real-thing-will/) [Kerby Jean-Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerby-jean-raymond/) > [When I was a kid and I would hear an artist talk about their depression, it would change my whole life and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-hear-an-artist-talk-about-their/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [It's hard to talk about childhood trauma. It's hard to talk about depression. It's hard to talk about anxiety. And we thought - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/it-s-hard-to-talk-about-childhood-trauma-it-s-hard-to-talk-about/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [There were some things I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about depression in public, I wanted to talk about being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-brennan/there-were-some-things-i-wanted-to-talk-about-i-wanted-to-talk-about/) [Neal Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-brennan/) > [“suicide is a very serious problem in both depression and schizophrenia as estimates are that as many as one out of every ten persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-francisco-amador/suicide-is-a-very-serious-problem-in-both-depression-and/) Xavier Francisco Amador > [Depression made my life more worse, it was just like a damn curse..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chasity-morgan/depression-made-my-life-more-worse-it-was-just-like-a-damn-curse/) Chasity Morgan > [I have had periods of depression in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-have-had-periods-of-depression-in-my-life/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) ## More by Henri Nouwen > [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More Depression quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. 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 > [“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 > [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 > [“Depression makes me stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayamalan/depression-makes-me-stronger/) 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 > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Scars by Papa Roach. <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophielianne/scars-by-papa-roach-3/) Sophielianne [Browse all 4,965 Depression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over. But depression is real.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henri Nouwen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depression-in-my-life-i-d-rather/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Depression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depression-in-my-life-i-d-rather/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/henri-nouwen-600_depression_i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depre_2765705.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've had a tremendous problem with depression in my life. I'd rather not talk about it, because it's over…” — Henri Nouwen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henri Nouwen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've had a tremendous problem with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depression-in-my-life-i-d-rather/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-ve-had-a-tremendous-problem-with-depression-in-my-life-i-d-rather/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```