---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I am clinically depressed and have an…"
description: "\"“But I am clinically depressed and have an anxiety disorder, which interferes with things like studying and learning and breathing and living. He think..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg"
---

#  But I am clinically depressed and have an anxiety…

![“But I am clinically depressed and have an anxiety disorder, which interferes with things like studying and learning and breathing and living. He thinks it’s something I can just turn off and on with willpower.” quote by Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg)

> ““But I am clinically depressed and have an anxiety disorder, which interferes with things like studying and learning and breathing and living. He thinks it’s something I can just turn off and on with willpower.””

[Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Mental health conditions cannot be simply switched off by willpower; they need proper treatment.

**In simple terms:** Depression isn’t a switch.

Key Takeaway

Seek help, not just willpower.

Themes

mental health stigma self-care

Mood

serious reflective

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- clinical settings
- education
- workplace
- personal coping

Key Concepts

psychology biology therapy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can society better support mental illness?
- What role does stigma play?

A Different Perspective

Willpower alone often fails.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-disorder/) [Clinically Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinically-depressed-695590/) [Depressed Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed-anxiety-4381952/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Disorder Interferes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorder-interferes-4381953/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [We may look great on Instagram, but we're still lonely and depressed and anxiety-ridden. I hope, for the sake of our future generations, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/we-may-look-great-on-instagram-but-we-re-still-lonely-and-depressed/)

[Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/)

> [“According to recent epidemiological data, the “lifetime incidence” of anxiety disorder is more than 25 percent—which, if true, means that one in four of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/according-to-recent-epidemiological-data-the-lifetime-incidence-of/)

[Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/)

> [All the textbooks talk about avoidance as a classic hallmark of anxiety disorder. So you need a therapist who is sympathetic and understanding but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/all-the-textbooks-talk-about-avoidance-as-a-classic-hallmark-of/)

[Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/)

> [“Genetics plays a role in determining who gets an anxiety disorder, what type it is (e.g., worry, compulsive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-emmons/genetics-plays-a-role-in-determining-who-gets-an-anxiety-disorder/)

[Henry Emmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-emmons/)

> [When you're clinically depressed the serotonin in your brain is out of balance and probably always will be out of balance. So I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/when-you-re-clinically-depressed-the-serotonin-in-your-brain-is-out/)

[Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/)

> [As a teenager I was clinically depressed. Although I had lots of friends, I found those years very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/as-a-teenager-i-was-clinically-depressed-although-i-had-lots-of/)

[Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/)

> [I remember going on vacation for two weeks once and one of my clients who was very clinically depressed really could not handle it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-carlin-mccall/i-remember-going-on-vacation-for-two-weeks-once-and-one-of-my-clients/)

[Kelly Carlin-McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-carlin-mccall/)

> [I read an article somewhere that stated 1 in 4 American women will be considered clinically depressed in their lifetime. This should be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-read-an-article-somewhere-that-stated-1-in-4-american-women-will-be/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [To me it comes naturally, the peaks and valleys, sadness with happiness. I've definitely had periods, maybe, where I haven't been happy. Whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-wilson/to-me-it-comes-naturally-the-peaks-and-valleys-sadness-with-happiness/)

[Luke Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-wilson/)

> [“The trouble is that when we get around to solutions, it always seems to come down to Prozac. Or Zoloft. Or Paxil. Deep clinical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/the-trouble-is-that-when-we-get-around-to-solutions-it-always-seems/)

[Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/)

> [You know your life has reached another level of sad when your own mother mocks you for being clinically depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-your-life-has-reached-another-level-of-sad-when-your-own/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I was clinically depressed. I was paranoid. I was agoraphobic. I would have days at a time of not being able to even bathe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-was-clinically-depressed-i-was-paranoid-i-was-agoraphobic-i-would/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [It wasn't like I was clinically depressed, but I was so down. I think I was probably depressed. Nothing went my way since college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-oden/it-wasn-t-like-i-was-clinically-depressed-but-i-was-so-down-i-think-i/)

[Greg Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-oden/)

> [“According to studies, clinically depressed individuals have a more accurate grasp of reality than the average person. We tell ourselves lies and layer falsehoods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wildbow/according-to-studies-clinically-depressed-individuals-have-a-more/)

[wildbow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wildbow/)

> [I was told that I had very likely been clinically depressed for a long, long time, probably since I was 15, or even 14.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-was-told-that-i-had-very-likely-been-clinically-depressed-for-a/)

[Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/)

## More by Leslie Stella

> [“up. “The thing you have to understand about people,” he says, “is that most of them suck, and you don’t want to be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/up-the-thing-you-have-to-understand-about-people-he-says-is-that-most/)

[Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

> [“The line between reality and illusion is getting blurry. Sometimes I really do think everyone hates me. Sometimes the crazy is all I’ve got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/the-line-between-reality-and-illusion-is-getting-blurry-sometimes-i/)

[Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

> [“You think the things you like are just ordinary things, just part of your personality—fencing,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/you-think-the-things-you-like-are-just-ordinary-things-just-part-of/)

[Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

> [“Have you ever tried to hold the gaze of someone who’s just complimented you? It’s hard as hell. At least I think it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/have-you-ever-tried-to-hold-the-gaze-of-someone-who-s-just/)

[Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

> [“You know your family’s got problems when the hippies with the stoned dog are worried about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/you-know-your-family-s-got-problems-when-the-hippies-with-the-stoned/)

[Leslie Stella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

[Explore all 6 Leslie Stella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

[Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“But I am clinically depressed and have an anxiety disorder, which interferes with things like studying and learning and breathing and living. He thinks it’s something I can just turn off and on with willpower.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leslie Stella"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-an-anxiety-disorder-which/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-an-anxiety-disorder-which/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/015/leslie-stella-53779_discipline_but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-a_1317936.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But I am clinically depressed and have an anxiety disorder, which interferes with things like studying and…” — Leslie Stella",
                "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": "Leslie Stella",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stella/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But I am clinically depressed and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-an-anxiety-disorder-which/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stella/but-i-am-clinically-depressed-and-have-an-anxiety-disorder-which/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
