--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Others imply that they know what it is…" description: "\"Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or broken up with someone. But these ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_broken_others-imply-that-they-know-what-it-is-l_310662.jpg" --- # Others imply that they know what it is like to be… ![“Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or broken up with someone. But these experiences carry with them feelings. Depression, instead, is flat, hollow, and unendurable. ... You're frightened, and you're frightening, and…” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_broken_others-imply-that-they-know-what-it-is-l_310662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_broken_others-imply-that-they-know-what-it-is-l_310662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_broken_others-imply-that-they-know-what-it-is-l_310662.jpg) > “Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or broken up with someone. But these experiences carry with them feelings. Depression, instead, is flat, hollow, and unendurable. ... You're frightened, and you're frightening, and you're 'not at all like yourself but will be soon,' but you know you won't.” [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) ## 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 deep, empty state that cannot be equated with other hardships; it feels uniquely numbing and unbearable. **In simple terms:** Depression is a hollow, unendurable emptiness. Key Takeaway Recognize depression as distinct, not comparable to other struggles. Themes mental health empathy misunderstanding Mood somber empathetic Type educational reflective When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - personal reflection - educational workshops Key Concepts psychology affect existential void Questions to Reflect On - How can we better convey the unique nature of depression? - What language respects someone’s depressive experience? A Different Perspective Comparing depression to other pains can invalidate the experience and hinder help‑seeking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clinical depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinical-depression/) [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Divorce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divorce/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) ## Related quotes > [Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job, or broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/others-imply-that-they-know-what-it-is-like-to-be-depressed-because-3/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“Others imply that they know what it is like to be depressed because they have gone through a divorce, lost a job or broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/others-imply-that-they-know-what-it-is-like-to-be-depressed-because-2/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Eating chocolates or popping pills won't reduce depression.Instead, one must read Gita. This will help relieve the stress and depression in life. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/eating-chocolates-or-popping-pills-won-t-reduce-depression-instead/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [“Feelings of depression; feelings of frustration; feelings of emptiness in the face of all this randomness - done down by the haphazard, yet again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/feelings-of-depression-feelings-of-frustration-feelings-of-emptiness/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [Oddly, I believe that emotional proximity we feel to close loved ones makes it hard to be honest with them about feelings of depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/oddly-i-believe-that-emotional-proximity-we-feel-to-close-loved-ones/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [“You can fight the feelings of depression by reminding yourself of blessings in your life. You can listen to music or sing. Even getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-fight-the-feelings-of-depression-by-reminding-yourself-of/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I have deep feelings of depression... What can I do about this?' 'Snap out of it! Five cents, please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-have-deep-feelings-of-depression-what-can-i-do-about-this-snap-out/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [Last time I talked to her she didn't sound like herself. She's depressed. It's awful what happens when people run out of money. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/last-time-i-talked-to-her-she-didn-t-sound-like-herself-she-s/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Are you okay? You seem ...soggy." "Soggy?" "Yes." Heather nodded. 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I know what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-used-to-work-in-jobs-i-hated-because-i-needed-the-money-to-buy-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) ## More by Kay Redfield Jamison > [ “...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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-mor-than-anyone-how-much-i/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [When people are suicidal, their thinking is paralyzed, their options appear spare or nonexistent, their mood is despairing, and hopelessness permeates their entire mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/when-people-are-suicidal-their-thinking-is-paralyzed-their-options/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [It's more common than not that bipolar illness will start in the teens. 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