Shaun KingVerified account

Exactly. Depression makes you feel as if reaching out will cause others stress and you don't want to be a burden to anyone. There's lot of shame and embarrassment in that paralysis, and the constant 'What's wrong with me?' It hurts. Hurts a lot.

I'm in recovery from addiction to heroin and also have depression and anxiety that can be debilitating at times. I present better than I am. This world is hard-especially lately- we're not alone. We all belong to each other. I love you guys!

A black hole in the heart... draining all that's meaningful from a soul feeling powerless to stop the encroaching darkness...

My daughter-in-law and I just talked about this. Depression is not rational, I've had it all my life. It is a paralyzingly irrational, haunting, obsessive, breath taking fog that surrounds you that even if just for a moment, you can't see through. It can pass quickly or not.

After viewing hundreds of tweets posting suicide hotline numbers, this is the first one I've seen encouraging people to connect to other people in our lives. Rather than giving out hotline numbers, give your time. Reach out to people.

The challenge for a depressed person is how to reach out to loved ones without burdening them; loved ones have burdens too. Reaching out to a professional requires trust which takes time. In some instances lots of time.

I learned to reach in. It's...far from ideal, but right now it's all I got. I'm determined to survive no matter what.

Thank you, Shaun. This is more powerful than all the hotline numbers in the world. Hope, human connection, caring. Priceless.

It's even worse than that. It subtly convinces you that you aren't worth people's time or attention. So if someone comes along and notices something is wrong, you insist to them that you're fine and send them on their way with only a thank you for their courtesy. It's rough.

I had to hit bottom and walk away from the one I loved most to get the help I needed as I was embarrassed and making things worse. I am on the road to full recovery and thankful.