The most frightening thing about depression is how it can hit anyone when they least expect it.
Even people who think they are generally happy with their lives might find themselves spiraling downwards unexpectedly.
Equally frightening is when therapy and medication don't seem to be helping.
Therapy, however, comes in many forms.
And sometimes it's the most unusual and unexpected therapies that end the spiral and see us climbing upwards.
Redditor Lazy_Cake_6910 was curious to hear the things that helped people climb out of dangerous depressions, leading them to ask:
"What saved you from your deep dark depression?"
They're Classics For A Reason.
"Children's Books ngl..."
"I'm pretty sure it was psychological regression, but when everything I had worked for was destroyed at once, the comfort of my childhood books gave me the time and distraction I needed to cope."- redpokemaster06
A Change In Narrative
"I analyzed my life in 3rd person and laughed."- antetx
Talk About Emotional Support
"At my lowest point my sister called round to check up on me, pretending everything was alright and not face the facts that I was depressed and things could have gotten very dark."
"She did something that seemed so simple she arrived back up about a week later with a dog for me and it actually was life changing."- Civil-Shame-2399
There Is Never shame To Be Reminded Every Now And Then...
"Wellbutrin and therapy."
"I cannot manage my depression without intervention unfortunately."- Brilliant_Effort_Guy
They Know More Than They Let On...
"My cats."
"Plain and simple."
"And the thought of them running to the door every time there's a sound outside thinking it was me coming home and their sad lil faces when it's not keeps most of the depression at bay."- Flanman1337
One Day At A Time...
"I am currently going through the darkest period of my entire life."
"There is a line from the show Severance: 'every day feels like a year' and that is exactly how I feel."
"I feel I am barely holding on day to day."
"It's awful."
"But even still, I like to tell myself that I am making a lot of choices (which I hope at this point are more 'habits' than choices) that are keeping me from truly going into a dark place."
"As bad as I feel now, I try to remember that there is a version of me that is not doing these things that is much worse off than I am now."
"'Level one' has been: no alcohol, moving my body in some way every day, getting outside every day even if it's just around the block, eating nourishing food, and drinking water."
"This has all really helped and I don't want to think about how bad off I'd be if I wasn't sticking to these things."
"I am hopefully phasing in 'level two' next week which is getting back into therapy, journaling, and trying to get to sleep before midnight instead of staying up until 3 AM doomscrolling and feeling like sh*t."
"These may not sound like anything to write home about, but three a month ago I was literally unable to get out of bed or eat anything because I was too depressed."- Possible_Implement86
Every Day Is An Accomplishment
"Getting sober (over 5 years now)."- LaurelPhinix
Some Things Take Time
"Nothing."
"I'm still here, in the depths of depression."- Prejudice_Tea2929
Every Good Story Needs Conflict
"Realizing I am the main character in my story and rolled with the punches."
"No one’s coming to save me."
"No risk."
"No glory."
"No failure."
"No story."- doingok411
Sometimes A Change Of Scene Is All It Takes
"Moving out lmao thought I was depressed, turns out it’s just my mom."- QueenGlass
Self-Care Is Vital
"Lifting weights and physical exercise made all the difference."
"Taking nature walks also helps a ton."- Kaiser-Sohze
You Are Your Own Storyteller
"If I'm gone, it's over; no one is gonna bother living my life trying to fix the things I did and do the things I wanted to do yet didn't, because why would anyone wanna live someone else's life, when they're already too busy with their own?"
"So I either do the things I wanna do myself, or they'll never be done."- Bman1465
Proceed With Caution
"Mushrooms."
"One day tried some, and felt an emotional release I was not expecting."
"And then felt a strange lightness of being, as if a fog had been lifted and I could feel joy for the first time."
"Thought it was just a temporary state of euphoria, except it never went away."
"I had experienced this low grade emptiness my whole life, and one day, it was just gone."
"Therapy never worked."
"Antidepressants never worked."
"Exercise and diet and sunlight never worked."
"After the first recreational use of mushrooms, I decided to try microdosing and continued with my therapist."
"I had some tremendous insights and breakthroughs, and changed my behavior over the course of half a year."
"I felt joy."
"I can now feel true contentment."
"I have not had an intrusive thought since, and intense emotions don’t linger."
"I don’t stay with one emotional forever."
"I just feel them and they go away… this is what well adjusted people are supposed to feel."
"So yea. Mushrooms."- IrreverantBard
Holly Golightly Can Relate
"I found an emaciated kitten by a dumpster."
"I was hanging on by a thread."
'I knew I couldn’t care for a pet and I was staying at a motel so I just put food out for it."
"But later I went out and all the food was eaten, and it was still crying for more."
"I snuck him into the motel room, took him to the vet with the only money I had and got him a flea treatment and fluids."
"I tried to find a no kill rescue, but nobody would take him anywhere. He also has FIV."
"One night he curled up on my chest to stay warm."
"And then I knew it was me and him against the world."
"He’s here now by my side, and I adore him."
"I had to take care of him, feed him."
"He needed love."
"Then I knew I couldn’t abandon him."
"I got some help I needed and things got better."
"He saved my life literally."- shadow_wy1
5 Easy Steps...
"1. Running till my brain tapped out Jogging started as weight loss, turned into rage-metal therapy. Science says exercise kills inflammation; I say it’s me beating the pavement. Cried less, ran more."
"2. Going full 'Yes Man' mode Said YES to goat yoga, midnight drives, weirdo strangers. Novelty rewired my dopamine-starved brain. Now I’ve got chaotic stories and ride-or-die friends."
"3. Friends who stormed my pity parties Homies spam-called me, showed up with tacos, let me ugly-cry without fixing me. 'You’re stuck with us' vibes > isolation. They’re the reason I stayed."
"4. Therapy + meds (zero shame) Fought help for years. Got a therapist who roasted my excuses + SSRIs. Like glasses for my soul—suddenly, the fog wasn’t forever."
"5. Ditching social media (Reddit stays) Deleted the ‘gram, killed FOMO. No more comparing my dumpster fire to filtered reels. Now it’s r/aww cats and actual sunlight."
"Bonus: 10-minute meltdown rule Spiral for 10 mins max—scream, cry, doom-Google. Timer dings? Do one thing: chug water, walk, text a homie. Progress > perfection."
"TL;DR:Outrun the darkness. Say yes. Let people love you. *You’re still here—that’s a win."- Greedy_Leek5479
The deeper you go, the harder it is to find a way out.
But always remember: there is ALWAYS a way out, and there are people who can help elevate you, even when you're convinced there aren't.
