http://velvetdragon.com/mentalhealth/best.html

{Taken from the alt.support.depression newsgroup. You can find it in various incarnations across the net.}

1. “I love you!”

2. “I Care”

3. “You’re not alone in this”

4. “I’m not going to leave/abandon you”

5. “Do you want a hug?”

6. “I love you [if you mean it].”

7. “It will pass, we can ride it out together.”

8. “When all this is over, I’ll still be here [if you mean it] and so will you.”

9. “Don’t say anything, just hold my hand and listen while I cry.”

10. “All I want to do is give you a hug and a shoulder to cry on..”

11. “Hey, you’re not crazy!”

12. “May the strength of the past reflect in your future.”

13. “God does not play dice with the universe.” — A. Einstein

14. “A miracle is simply a do-it-yourself project.” — S. Leek

15. “We are not primarily on earth to see through one another, but to see one another through” — from someone’s sig

16. “If the human brain were simple enough to understand, we’d be too simple to understand it.” — a codeveloper of Prozac, quoted from “Listening to Prozac”

17. “You have so many extraordinary gifts — how can you expect to live an ordinary life?” — from the movie “Little Women” (Marmee to Jo)

18. “I understand your pain and I empathize”

19. “I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself so you don’t need to worry that your pain might hurt me.”

20. “I listen to you talk about it, and I can’t imagine what it’s like for you. I just can’t imagine how hard it must be.”

21. “I can’t really fully understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion.”

22. “You are important to me.”

23. “If you need a friend….. [and mean it]”

24. “I’ll stick with you no matter what.” [Don't go back on this. It's a betrayal.]

25. “I like/love *all* of you.”

http://velvetdragon.com/mentalhealth/worst.html

{Taken from the alt.support.depression newsgroup. You can find it in various incarnations across the net.}

0. “What’s *your* problem?”

1. “Will you stop that constant whining? What makes you think that anyone cares?”

2. “Have you gotten tired yet of all this me-me-me stuff?”

3. “You just need to give yourself a kick in the rear.”

4. “But it’s all in your mind.”

5. “I thought you were stronger than that.”

6. “No one ever said life was fair.”

7. “As you get stronger you won’t have to wallow in it as much.”

8. “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”

9. “Do you feel better now?”
(Usually said following a five minute conversation in which the speaker has asked me “what’s wrong?” and “would you like to talk about it?” with the best of intentions, but absolutely no under- standing of depression as anything but an irrational sadness.)

10. “Why don’t you just grow up?”

11. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

12. “There are a lot of people worse off than you.”

13. “You have it so good, why aren’t you happy?”

14. “It’s a beautiful day!”

15. “You have so many things to be thankful for, why are you depressed!”

16. “What do you have to be depressed about?”

17. “Happiness is a choice.”

18. “You think *you’ve* got problems…”

19. “Well at least it’s not that bad.”

20. “Maybe you should take vitamins for your stress.”

21. “There is always somebody worse off than you are.”

22. “Lighten up!”

23. “You should get off all those pills.”

24. “You are what you think.”

25. “Cheer up!”

26. “You’re always feeling sorry for yourself.”

27. “Why can’t you just be normal?”

28. “Things aren’t *that* bad, are they?”

30. “You need to get out more.”

31. “We have to get together some time.” [Yeah, right!]

32. “Get a grip!”

33. “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

34. “Take a hot bath. That’s what I always do when I’m upset.”

35. “Well, everyone gets depressed sometimes!”

36. “Get a job!”

37. “Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone.”

38. “You don’t *look* depressed!”

39. “You’re so selfish!”

40. “You never think of anyone but yourself.”

41. “You’re just looking for attention.”

42. “Have you got PMS?”

43. “You’ll be a better person because of it!”

44. “Everybody has a bad day now and then.”

45. “You should buy nicer clothes to wear.”

46. “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

47. “Why don’t you smile more?”

48. “A person your age should be having the time of your life.”

49. “The only one you’re hurting is yourself.”

50. “You can do anything you want if you just set your mind to it.”

53. “You brought it on yourself” 54. “You can make the choice for depression and its effects, or against depression, it’s all in YOUR hands.”

55. “Get off your rear and do something.” -or- “Just do it!”

56. “Why should I care?”

57. “Snap out of it, will you?”

58. “You *want* to feel this way.”

59. “You have no reason to feel this way.”

60. “Its your own fault.”

61. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

62. “You’re always worried about *your* problems.”

63. “Your problems aren’t that big.”

64. “What are you worried about? You should be fine.”

65. “Just don’t think about it.”

66. “Go Away.”

67. “You don’t have the ability to do it.”

68. “Just wait a few weeks, it’ll be over soon.”

69. “Go out and have some fun!”

70. “You’re making me depressed as well…”

71. “I just want to help you.”

72. “The world out there is not that bad…”

73. “Just try a little harder!”

74. “Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once for several days.”

75. “You need a boy/girl-friend.”

76. “You need a hobby.”

77. “Just pull yourself together.”

78. “You’d feel better if you went to church.”

79. “I think your depression is a way of punishing us.”

80. “Sh*t or get off the pot.”

81. “So, you’re depressed. Aren’t you always?”

82. “What you need is some real tragedy in your life to give you perspective.”

83. “You’re a writer, aren’t you? Just think of all the good material you’re getting out of this.”

84. This one is best executed with an evangelical-style handshake, i.e. one of my hands is imprisoned by two belonging to a beefy person who thinks he has a lot more charisma than I do: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.” This has actually happened to me. Bitten-back response: “Who are ‘our’? And don’t do me any favors, schmuck.”

85. “Have you tried camomile tea?”

86. “So, you’re depressed. Aren’t you always?”

87. “You will be ok, just hang in there, it will pass.”
“This too shall pass.” – Ann Landers

88. “Oh, perk up!”

89. “Try not being so depressed.”

90. “Quit whining. Go out and help people and you won’t have time to brood…”

91. “Go out and get some fresh air… that always makes me feel better.”

92. “You have to take up your bed and carry on.”

93. “Why don’t you give up going to these quacks (ie doctors) and throw out those pills, then you’ll feel better.”

94. “Well, we all have our cross to bear.”

95. “You should join band or chorus or something. That way you won’t be thinking about yourself so much.”

96. “You change your mind.”

97. “You’re useless.”

98. “Nobody is responsible for your depression.”

99. “You don’t like feeling that way? So, change it.”

100. “Of course you’re depressed, just look at the TV you watch/music you listen to.”

101. “People are depressed because they’re too lazy to be happy.”

102. “Quit trying to be a martyr.”

——–

————————————————

1. Ghost Of The Sun

The thin darkness here
Not strong enough to make you appear
I once changed my style
When they said hello I said goodbye
I once played a role
I was out there marketing my soul

The city of glass that I live in
The coldness from my brothers skin

I trusted you you lied
It’s all I hear a fucking lie
I don’t give a shit it’s over now
It’s all I know you broke the vow

Truth is I have seen it come
Seen the ghost of the sun
Can’t have it undone
In time we all call out for relief
See two lovers meet
Pass you on the street

2. Sleeper

O my your fever’s high
I lay my hands upon you
O my haven’t you heard
The truth is untrue

Now I’m breathing
I could not breathe until you did
I’m one second after you
Just a second after you

Someone inside your room
Who is it there behind you?
What does he want from you?

Sleeper what did you see?
I close the window to the street
Parents died and left their child
Unattended for a while

Sleeper’s song will you listen to me sing
The bird is here I can see the edge of his wing
If you die now how can I then live on
Don’t give up you must live on

You die now

3. Criminals

The way the light hits the road
The way I am unable to protect you
O I’m running away
I will never forgive myself
For running away from you

He came back to your house
I didn’t take it as a promise
Always thought it was a lie
He went too far the fucker
It’s not like I owe him money
This is different

So gather your strength and break free
Or you will surely die
Gather your strength don’t follow me
‘Cause I will surely die

The way my eyes cannot move
The way I hope to be protected
And for one moment I thought
That I was lost among the lights of houses

My dreams of violence
See them coming true

4. A Premonition

Stand aside now no one will survice can’t tell you how I know
In some time I will change my name and lay low
In the light you can see me walk down by the way
The one who did this to us well he got away

Keep it quiet here I will not tolerate your noise
This is where I listen for the forgiving voice

It haunts my dreams

5. Will I Arrive

Bypassed the day I can hear them coming
They walk round my door and speak of their coming
My trial awaits got nowhere to run
My only words how soon you have come

And I think about what you told me
When I was about to join in

Defy only if you have a way to resist the lies
Decline only if you have the intention of taking this advice
Apply only if you’re not afraid to see your spirit die
Retreat only if you dare not hear yourself say goodbye

Who brought me here this place is familiar
Where houses are black under the sun
Strangers pass on streets with strange names
All I can think is how soon they have come

Look at me now they have cut my hair
It’s a long way back
They kicked me down and I could not rise
I will never arrive

6. Burn The Remembrance

Old light and new colours your picture hangs in the night
Is this the right time to set one free and go away
In the emptiness behind you I will walk about
Surely you’ll miss me but long live the doubt

What will replace us
What will be our memory of this time
Second hand impressions
Hand them over so we can let it die

I remember one time when we were abroad
I was laughing at a book I had bought
But you were standing against the hotel wall
Frozen in an unknown thought

7. Wealth

Cool night gave my truth for a lie
Will you be here when I try
I’m not set cannot do it yet
Will you be here when I try
Our wealth breeds emptiness
Another day to compress

My lips are dry you gave me drugs to try
Hold me when I die
The sky has frozen to a wall
We die we all

8. One Year From Now

One year from now will I be strong
Will I stand up for what I’ve become

Everything I have I will give you
And everything I own I owe you

One year from now dare I call you mine
A year ahead from now it’s a different time

9. Walking By A Wire

I could not breath against the wall
The clash of light against the floor
They held me up against the wall
Too young to be ignored

Standing by a building
Leaks out information
Passive death of freedom gets me
Where’s my security
Behind my back it goes
Early morning’s coming
The risk that I am taking
Recall a song that I heard as a child
No more false immunity
Inside the blistering cold

My youth unknown to me
I’m walking by a wire
What’s left from me to breathe
Cold smell of fire
One day I will be free
I was born to be no one
My youth unknown to me
I walked behind the sun

Emptiness within me
Exit signs within me
The one you’re looking for is not here
Had no security
He will not come back

10. Complicity

I have no name my face a blur
I speak only to answer them
White noise becomes a voice
I hear it constantly

I dare not break the circuit
I rest only for a short time
This time I promise I won’t give up

I have no right to let it go
I have no right to do so

My vision now is incomplete
I am affected by the warmth
A change of tone unusual sound
Is this the time to decline

They control the circuit
The embodiment of what I’ve done
If I waver from this circle
A second pass and then I’m found
But he who walks behind me
He once saw the morning sun

11. Evidence

I hold my breath and check the time
One minute no collapse
If you only knew what I would do for you
One thirty breathing lapse
We’re going in my voice is thin
When I tell you to remember
That no one will find you
My promise from the heart
If we part my pulse will guide you through

Be still for a moment
Everything depends upon you
If you die I will die too
Once we were heroes
But everything has changed since then
Now they recognize you too

I stay too long something’s wrong
You walk out of the picture
I hold my breath and check the time
One thirty I collapse
We went in my voice was thin
When I told you to remember

I’m the evidence
You passed the test and that’s so good for you
O love will you read the letters I will send to you
Will I come along
Will they let me out to take the test
O love is the score enough for me to pass the test

12. Omerta

Come by you have come far
All I had I lost in the flood
Come sit with me at the bar
Tell me of progress strengthen my blood
No one here knows my name
I have traded my memories for things
But I remember you clearly
Do you remember that I used to sing

Why have you waited so long

Come by you have come far
Long since I saw you so how have you been
Come sit with me at the bar
How long since they told you that they had found him
No one here knows my name
I gave up my worries for one good thing
But I remember you clearly
Do you remember that I used to sing

Was it because I never told you
I was going away
That you waited so long
Was it because your fucking dreams
Meant nothing to me
That you waited so long

It runs from the top of my fingers
Into my hands
What is it I have been drinking
I do not understand
I thought I’d lost you my brother
I’m so glad you came
My regards to the ones that I love I miss them
Tell them I love them I miss them

————————————–

1. Crushed To Dust

[music: Stein R, lyrics Stein R]

He took a long look in the mirror
Shook his head
Felt the arms of God letting go
Couldn`t breathe
It had to stop
Voices screaming out inside of him
The world was turning black
Cold, cruel and vicious
Time was knocking on a closing door
Wanting more

Playing pieces of a life long play
In which the starring actor
Makes the world go around inside his head
Then suddenly the act is ending
The lights are dimming and the music`s fading

There was a woman lying on the floor
Blueish, pale
Staring a hole through his soul
There was blood underneath
The shotgun lying next too her
He mumbled “am I closer now
Is this the path that God has chosen out for me?”

Playing pieces of a life long play
In which the starring actor
Makes the world go around inside his head
Then suddenly the act is ending
The lights are dimming and the music`s fading

“Cut”, he said. “Let`s wrap it up! We`re finished here!”

Playing pieces of a life long play
In which the starring actor
Makes the world go around inside his head
Then suddenly the act is ending
The lights are dimming and the music`s fading

2. Lullaby In Winter

[music: Tchort, lyrics: Kjetil N]

When tomorrow comes
All your worrries fly
Hear the lullaby

All will be soft and warm
You will be safe and strong
Hear the lullaby

Can you recall the light?

I know you`re sad because it`s winter
But I can promise you a spring
I know you`re cold, I see you shiver
But I can promise you a spring

Tomorrow`s new
Tomorrow`s warm
Remember, when you`re all alone

I know you`re hurt, I feel it in my heart
But I can promise you a spring
I see you`re down, I see it in your eyes
But I can promise you a spring

3. Writings On The Wall

[music: Tchort, lyrics: Tchort]

Kill me… Down by the shore
I can feel it… She is not here anymore
Hear my call… It`s born by the breeze
Tell me… To where do I go?

I would beg, I would plead
But you were still going to leave
The message that I couldn`t see
Lying on the floor
The writings on the wall

Meet me… In the forest, come alone
See the lights… It`s my car coming down the road
I want you… Queen of bizarre
Days of love, like an arrow shot right through the heart

I would beg, I would plead
But you were still going to leave
The message that I couldn`t see
Lying on the floor
The writings on the wall

A shadow cast falls from me over you
Lying on the floor
With the hammer raised to let you know
When the passion dissolves
The blood on the walls

Kill me… Down by the shore
I can feel it… She is not here anymore
Hear my call… It`s born by the breeze
Tell me… To where do I go?

I would beg, I would plead
But you were still going to leave
The message that I couldn`t see
Lying on the floor
The writings on the wall

A shadow cast falls from me over you
Lying on the floor
With the hammer raised to let you know
When the passion dissolves
The blood on the walls

I would beg, I would plead
But you were still going to leave
The message that I couldn`t see
When the passion dissolves
The blood on the walls

4. Into Deep

[music: Tchort, lyrics: Kjetil N]

Drowning slowly
In my own sea
Fading lonely
Into deep

Pushed too hard
Pushed too far
Into deep

Fell too hard
Fell too far
Into deep

Feel my pity
Cause I am down
Into deep

I waited for something to happen
For someone to save me
Praying for something to happen
For someone to lift me

But I kept falling down

Mute my eyes
Sacrifice
The dream that will always be there
Mute my eyes
Neutralize
The dream that will always be there

Pushed too hard
Pushed too far
Into deep

Fell too hard
Fell too far
Into deep

I waited for something to happen
For someone to save me
Praying for something to happen
For someone to lift me

But I kept falling down

5. The Boy In The Attic

[music: Tchort, lyrics: Tchort]

A blessing from below, born a sweet child like foretold
Could it the boy that I used to be
Oh, father please forgive me if I`ve done you wrong
For how long will you let me suffer all alone

Father! Please!

A father`s touch, a beating one too much

Hiding in the closet waiting for him to sleep
What others saw of me, was what dad wanted them to see

Father! Please!

I want to taste the free, like nothing ever used to be
I want to taste what is mine
Am I evil, could it be, that I am the one they fear
Look at me, I am the sweetest one you`ll ever see

I made it through the old into a brand new life
No more hiding in the closet, waiting for him to sleep

Into the shadows of old
Strange memories of time gone

I was never rightfully yours
Storys like mine, that were never told
Out of the window feeling free
That is how I killed me…

6. Two Seconds In Life

[music: Kjetil N, lyrics: Kjetil N]

I left myself
I left my body
I got so frightened by the light,
and all the things that I could see
I left myself

Blinded by the light
Faded by the dawn
Of mine

I whispered “no”
To my own shadow
I got so frightened by the light,
and all the tings that I could see
I whispered “no”

Blinded by the light
Faded by the dawn
Of mine

I got along
To my own voice
I got enlightened by the fright,
and all the things that I could see
I got along

Blinded by the light
Faded by the dawn
Of mine

I flew away…

7. Myron And Cole

[music: Stein R, lyrics: Stein R]

Myron and Cole had a plan heading of to another world
Inhaling an acre of Myrons sweet garden of pleasure
Waving goodbye to the rational patterns of thinking

High above, swans sails the orbits of earth
Waiting for peace below
Dying to go with the flow

Cole starts to shiver,
he`s sweating and swears that an angel`s here
He`s crying while speaking of colors which does not exist

Let me bleed for knowledge an angel possess
Speak to the world through me
I live for a reason to be

Myron stood up and he laughed in his moment of clarity
Said to his friend “are we ever to come to our senses?”

High above, swans sails the orbits of earth
Waiting for peace below
Dying to go with the flow

8. As Life Flows By

[Music: Tchort, Lyrics: Tchort & Kjetil N]

Cross my heart and hope to die
With only seconds away before I…
It felt so good when I hit the ground
Come with me; join me on the other side

And life flows by
It hits me when I hit the ground
And life flows by
I am feeling lonely, fading slowly
And life flows by

If tomorrow never see the light
If I never get to say goodbye
It doesn’t mean that I don’t care
Come with me, and I will take you there

And life flows by
It hits me when I hit the ground
And life flows by
I am feeling lonely, fading slowly
And life flows by
I am feeling lonely, fading slowly
Out

When passion burns no more
When your friends are all gone
When laughter is heard no more
I am the fool who turned away

And life flows by
It hits me when I hit the ground
And life flows by
I am feeling lonely, fading slowly
And life flows by
I am feeling lonely, fading slowly
Out

9. Rain

[music: Tchort, lyrics: Kjetil N]

It rained on the day that she went away
She never returned
Searching for something she`d lost on her way
She never came back

To me

It rained on the day that I fell asleep
I never returned
Searching for something I`d lost on my way
I never came back

To life

I dreamt of a mountain that I could not sieze
I dreamt of a flower that I could not smell
I dreamt of treasures that I could not possess
I dreamt of dreams that were not true

She found a mountain, but would not seize
She found a flower, but would not smell
She found treasures, but would not possess
She found a life, but would not live

To where she went I don`t know
But what I felt, she was close

She found a mountain, but would not sieze
She found a flower, but would not smell
She found treasures, but would not possess
She found a life, but would not live

If you want a boxer,
I will step into the ring for you
And if you want a doctor,
I’ll examine every inch of you
If you want a driver, climb inside
Or if you want to take me for a ride,
You know you can
I’m your man

Ah, the moon’s too bright
The chain’s too tight
The beast won’t go to sleep
I’ve been running through these promises to you
That I made and I could not keep
But a man never got a woman back,
Not by begging on his knees
Or I’d crawl to you baby
And I’d fall at your feet
And I’d howl at your beauty
Like a dog in heat
And I’d claw at your heart
And I’d tear at your sheet
I’d say please, please
I’m your man

And if you’ve got to sleep
A moment on the road,
I will steer for you
And if you want to work the street alone,
I’ll disappear for you
If you want a father for your child,
Or only want to walk with me a while
Across the sand
I’m your man

(If you want a lover…)

“I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what’s at the bottom. All you can do is guess from what comes floating to the surface every once in a while.”

Haruki Murakami

———————————–

1. I Break

Sounds of imbalance
Sleeps through the never
The artificial lightsource
Is creeping with flies

And this time i break
I will never make
Another day
Defiant to what’s delivered

I will find a way
To sever myself
Exit all today
You can’t see this
Did you ever say
I break sever
I will find a way
Visit me when i’m there

The weakness of hope
Is the strength of decline
Remember what’s past ways
And what i’ve become
The joy of not being
Something i need
I’m only weather
But only to me

2. Stalemate

What am i supposed to be
In my life
In your life
In our life
In this life

In shut the door and close my sight
At the end of the day

It’s not the way that it used to be
There’s no way i’ll see
The beginning of things to come
Trapped in the ways of the weak

3. Deadhouse

Somehow better without this
Headlights fuck the city
Somewhere i’m broken
No sensations nevermore

What do you say when you speak
I sense no time
Discouraged television sleep
Not awake until it’s dark

Somehow i never leave
This deadhouse
Somehow i don’t mind being gone
And if you think you’ve seen me
I have to prove you
That you’re wrong

4. Relention

It’s hard to say where i’ve been
Or am, sleeping in the dark
I don’t know where i live
Dirty (splintered) palace walls

I’m returning from something
To something
I’m returning from something
To something
Guess i’m alright

5. Cold Ways

I can’t do what you do
I’m just able to tear it down yeah
Stay in a cold minute of sleep
See the world
Right through the ether

Twisting names inside of me
Electric atmosphere to be
Must carry on one last time
Cannot end what has begun

In your eyes
You’re alive
But in my eyes
You’re a lie

You can’t do what i do
I’m just able to ruin you yeah
Stay in the cold ways of winter
See myself right through the ether

In my eyes
You’re the lie

6. Gone

A dead start in my head
And the day’s been laid
The things i really want
Always torn from my heart
You never saw the way
How i wanted you to stay
And now you’re gone
I’m on my own

When i was thinking this
Was something permanent
You were already thinking
Of going away

7. Last Resort

And here the air i breathe isn’t dead
Enter life of what’s still here
Close the door away from near
Shrouded in autumn’s grave ascension

Though the bridge was over now
Lost the track astray somewhere
Who’s painting my life in sorrow blue

A relief for a dislocated mind
Shelter for thoughts
Asylum for my soul
Finding the only place i need to know

Salvation for a lonely stinking kind
All my duties be done
A few years of take
Never leaving again you’re forever

8. Nerve

High white ways
Shattered by rain
Pale dead walls
Nerves pushed in pain
Red light faced
Mirrors of the dead
People in the archways
Eyes full of lead

Always closing down myself
Lower sights and never see
Worlds of noise and worlds of light
Expecting not to be
Not close enough for you
To hear a breath or steal a sigh
But just close enough for me
To take a step and pass you by

9. Saw You Drown

As through your shattered eyes
It all came together
And your heart cries
Weeping through the weather
Another way to change your mind
I’m weaker than they say
To leave this all behind
The only way to stay

Don’t you know
I’m the end of what we’ll be
And right below us
The last thing you’ll see

In the water
I saw you drown
Down the water
Saw you drown

As through my shattered sight
You’re no longer here
And my heart cries
Sleeping through the light
Another way to change my mind
Never is the day
To leave this all behind
The only way to stay

11. Distrust

Running my way towards oblivion
Inside my head electric insomnia
In your mind i’m fed with distrust
Heading for anything better than this

I want to be forgotten
I want you to forgive
How i’m losing all this
It’s just the way i live

Running my way towards oblivion
Inside my head smokescreen’s gone
Leaving all this to be undone
Heading for anything better than this

Running my way towards oblivion
Outside my head only the dark
In your mind i’m the end of it all
Heading for anything better than this

• Events
• Circumstances
• Misunderstandings
• Ourselves

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colors,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight

When the canvas frays
in the boat of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.