This may be the single most relatable comic I’ve ever seen you make. I’ve even thought of almost the same metaphor: like I feel I’m in a car race and my engine stalled out at the starting line, and by the time its fixed everyone else who was racing with me is long gone and I’m all alone.
Hobbling on crutches is hard, slow, and painful, but it’s better than trying to walk on an untreated broken leg. That’s something I often have to keep reminding myself too.
Marathons maybe… 😉 Sorry, it wasn’t meant to be a patronising comment. It just comes from my own experiences from recovering from major depressions. When I push my self too hard to catch up things don’t go so well, but when I go more slowly I am surprised how soon I get back up to speed with everyone else…
Yeah, I get into that phase where I’m all “Yay, better, time to catch up on ALL THE THINGS,” and in order to prevent a stress freakout I have to catch myself, take a look at my to-do list, and cross out half of it before I even start. Little by little, bit by bit.
Speaking of which, it’s time to go to bed. Sleep is good. If a full ration of sleep is not going to happen, every minute asleep is good. Little by little, bit by bit.
Sometimes your bones are not set properly, and you heal all wrong. You keep hobbling along, but since you cant walk properly, you get all this stress and strain that damages previously healthy parts. Muscles and tendons. Anxiety, self harm, eating- and personality disorders.
Majority of runners don’t win races, but run to do their personal best and to cross the finish line. I’m a back of the pack runner and slow and steady is always the game plan.
How much you ‘get it’ probably partly depends on how old you are. I’m 34 now and have wasted a ridiculous proportion of my life dealing with depression, so it hits me immediately. It probably wouldn’t so much if you’re 20 and can still clearly see the metaphorical backs of the people ahead of you.
Feel like this comic portrys how it feels for the individual going through depression, but he has blinders on that don’t let him acknowledge that he isn’t the only one who stumbled or had trouble in life
You can’t look at these strips individually to get the full picture. Depression also makes one view their own life very negatively in comparison to other people (see the previous strip #190 for an example of this), so people with depression are not able to make lucid comparisons with other people’s lives. They will view their life more negatively just because that’s what the illness does.
Furthermore, just because someone has it worse than you does not make one’s own situation more tolerable. Guilt trips do not often improve people’s situation.
Scott says
This may be the single most relatable comic I’ve ever seen you make. I’ve even thought of almost the same metaphor: like I feel I’m in a car race and my engine stalled out at the starting line, and by the time its fixed everyone else who was racing with me is long gone and I’m all alone.
Thanks for this.
Tiamat Noricum says
Looks familiar. You really marked the spot!
Luca Bergamasco says
And still, you have to go…
Felis D says
Hobbling on crutches is hard, slow, and painful, but it’s better than trying to walk on an untreated broken leg. That’s something I often have to keep reminding myself too.
Andrew Strong says
At least if you had crutches people would be understanding. If the crutches are a metaphor then people are merciless to your short comings
Heather Bufkin says
I’m so desperate not to fall too far behind that I’m struggling along with both legs broken. :/
Sangeetha Sdn says
Hit the nail right in the middle, mate.
Klein Von Norman says
True life
Sally Macdonald says
But you will catch up eventually 🙂 …slow and steady wins the race…
depression comix says
I have never seen or participated in a race where slow and steady has won it.
Elle says
Every race that isn’t a sprint – it doesn’t mean literally slow, it just means pace yourself and know your limits.
Rachel Bongini says
This is pretty much exactly where I am now.
Sally Macdonald says
Marathons maybe… 😉 Sorry, it wasn’t meant to be a patronising comment. It just comes from my own experiences from recovering from major depressions. When I push my self too hard to catch up things don’t go so well, but when I go more slowly I am surprised how soon I get back up to speed with everyone else…
Jenny Islander says
Yeah, I get into that phase where I’m all “Yay, better, time to catch up on ALL THE THINGS,” and in order to prevent a stress freakout I have to catch myself, take a look at my to-do list, and cross out half of it before I even start. Little by little, bit by bit.
Speaking of which, it’s time to go to bed. Sleep is good. If a full ration of sleep is not going to happen, every minute asleep is good. Little by little, bit by bit.
Iain Sutherland says
I like all your comics but this one really strikes a chord.
Anita says
Sometimes your bones are not set properly, and you heal all wrong. You keep hobbling along, but since you cant walk properly, you get all this stress and strain that damages previously healthy parts. Muscles and tendons. Anxiety, self harm, eating- and personality disorders.
Eric Graybill says
joke’s on them, the beaten path is for suckers.
Stephen says
it’s endless
A.j. Ermenc says
Slow and steady may not win the race but it does let me stay in it.
Matti says
Thanks! This just gave me the first real belly laugh I’ve had in months! 😀
Umi Hashitsume Francis says
Majority of runners don’t win races, but run to do their personal best and to cross the finish line. I’m a back of the pack runner and slow and steady is always the game plan.
depression comix says
I think people are looking at this literally as a comic about a real race and not as a metaphor for the feeling of lost time and starting way behind.
Scott says
How much you ‘get it’ probably partly depends on how old you are. I’m 34 now and have wasted a ridiculous proportion of my life dealing with depression, so it hits me immediately. It probably wouldn’t so much if you’re 20 and can still clearly see the metaphorical backs of the people ahead of you.
Rex says
LIFE is NOT a race. Who wants to race to the end of it?
It’s an ADVENTURE! And I’m a level 8 Wizard.
Richey says
Life is an overly complicated mmorpg and 99% of the players are jerks.
also, this comic represents me in so many levels.
Andrew Hoccom says
I love that the nurse looks like Jareth David Bowie
1544C says
The comic made my day, your comment made my week.
1544C says
Darn, I wanted to reply to Richey, what did I do wrong?
Queazy says
Feel like this comic portrys how it feels for the individual going through depression, but he has blinders on that don’t let him acknowledge that he isn’t the only one who stumbled or had trouble in life
clay says
You can’t look at these strips individually to get the full picture. Depression also makes one view their own life very negatively in comparison to other people (see the previous strip #190 for an example of this), so people with depression are not able to make lucid comparisons with other people’s lives. They will view their life more negatively just because that’s what the illness does.
Furthermore, just because someone has it worse than you does not make one’s own situation more tolerable. Guilt trips do not often improve people’s situation.
Mary Downey says
Life long game of playing catch up, exhausting.
@BeaERmrzBtncs says
191 http://t.co/Esidb5MBs7 via @depressioncomix
Anon says
This was the best strip so far. Judging by the number of comments, I think others like it, too.
D3 & EGOSELF (@d3andego) says
@hadroncollider_ relevant u_u http://t.co/Z1WfGo0gqD
Anonymous says
The catch is, the finish line of this race is ALSO death.