Care Quote by Kay Redfield Jamison
“Others would say to me, 'It is only temporary, it will pass, you will get over it,' but of course they had no idea how I felt, although they were certain that they did. Over and over and over I would say to myself, If I can't feel, if I can't move, if I can't think, and I can't care, then what conceivable point is there in living?”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison, 1995
The speaker feels misunderstood by others who dismiss deep emotional pain as temporary, leading to existential despair when numbness overwhelms.
In simple terms: People often minimize deep suffering, causing feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic support and acknowledge the depth of your pain.
Themes
mental health
empathy
existential crisis
misunderstanding
Mood
sad
lonely
reflective
Type
personal
psychological
existential
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- friend conversations
- support groups
- self‑reflection
- journaling
Key Concepts
psychology
depression
emotional validation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you communicate your experience so others understand?
- What steps can you take when feeling numb?
A Different Perspective
Dismissal of pain can deepen isolation and hinder recovery.
![“...even though [my psychiatrist] understood mor than anyone how much I felt I was losing--in energy, vivacity, and originality--by taking medication, he never was seduced into losing sight of the overall perspective of how costly, damaging, and life threatening my illness was. He was at ease with…” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57f/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_life_even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-m_3399.jpg)
