Feeling sad is something everyone goes through sometimes. But when that sadness sticks around for a long time, it might be something more than just a bad day. We call this feeling depression. It can make people feel tired, lonely, or like nothing makes them happy anymore. It can even feel like you’re carrying something heavy that no one else can see. Sometimes, it’s hard to explain what depression feels like using regular words.
That’s why people often use metaphors. A metaphor is a way to compare a feeling to something else, like saying “My mind is a dark cloud” to show you feel really sad. These word pictures help others understand what someone is going through. In this article, we will look at 35 metaphors for depression. Each one will help explain how depression can feel, using simple comparisons and easy examples. Let’s get started.
Metaphors for Depression
1. Depression is a dark cloud
Meaning: It feels like something heavy and sad is always around.
Example Sentence: Ever since he lost his dog, a dark cloud followed him everywhere.
Other ways to say: Gloomy feeling, sadness that won’t go away
Fun Fact/Origin: Clouds block the sun, just like depression can block happiness.
Usage: Used when sadness feels constant.
2. Depression is a sinking ship
Meaning: You feel like you’re losing control.
Example Sentence: With each bad day, she felt like a sinking ship.
Other ways to say: Falling apart, going under
Fun Fact/Origin: A ship that sinks goes down fast, like mood with depression.
Usage: Describes moments when everything feels like it’s getting worse.
3. Depression is a heavy coat
Meaning: It weighs you down and is hard to take off.
Example Sentence: His sadness felt like a heavy coat he couldn’t take off.
Other ways to say: Burden, something dragging you down
Fun Fact/Origin: Coats can feel warm or heavy—this one is the heavy kind.
Usage: Used when sadness feels hard to carry.
4. Depression is a locked room
Meaning: You feel stuck and can’t find a way out.
Example Sentence: She felt like she was stuck in a locked room with no key.
Other ways to say: Trapped, stuck in your head
Fun Fact/Origin: Locked rooms mean no exit—just like how depression can feel.
Usage: Used when someone feels they can’t escape sadness.
5. Depression is a flat tire
Meaning: You don’t have the energy to keep going.
Example Sentence: After weeks of feeling down, he felt like a flat tire.
Other ways to say: Out of energy, no motivation
Fun Fact/Origin: A car with a flat tire can’t move well—just like some people with depression.
Usage: Used when someone feels tired all the time.
6. Depression is a foggy mirror
Meaning: It makes it hard to see clearly or think straight.
Example Sentence: His mind felt like a foggy mirror—nothing made sense.
Other ways to say: Confused, unclear thinking
Fun Fact/Origin: Foggy mirrors blur your reflection, like depression can blur your thoughts.
Usage: Used when someone feels confused or lost.
7. Depression is a long winter
Meaning: It feels cold, lonely, and never-ending.
Example Sentence: Her heart felt like it was stuck in a long winter.
Other ways to say: Cold season, lonely time
Fun Fact/Origin: Winter is often linked with sadness because of less sunlight.
Usage: Used when sadness feels like it won’t go away.
8. Depression is a hole with no bottom
Meaning: You keep falling and can’t stop.
Example Sentence: Every sad thought pulled him deeper into a bottomless hole.
Other ways to say: Endless sadness, falling feeling
Fun Fact/Origin: Bottomless holes make you feel like you’re falling forever.
Usage: Used when sadness keeps getting worse.
9. Depression is an empty room
Meaning: There’s nothing that brings joy or comfort.
Example Sentence: Her heart felt like an empty room—silent and cold.
Other ways to say: Lonely space, blank feeling
Fun Fact/Origin: Empty rooms have no comfort, like how depression can feel.
Usage: Used when someone feels lonely and numb.
10. Depression is a shadow
Meaning: It follows you everywhere, even when you’re trying to smile.
Example Sentence: No matter where he went, the shadow of sadness followed.
Other ways to say: Gloom, sadness that sticks
Fun Fact/Origin: Shadows are always with you, just like depression sometimes is.
Usage: Used when sadness won’t leave you alone.
11. Depression is a closed book
Meaning: It keeps you from sharing your feelings.
Example Sentence: She felt like a closed book—keeping everything inside.
Other ways to say: Holding back, staying quiet
Fun Fact/Origin: Closed books don’t show their stories, like people hiding their feelings.
Usage: Used when someone can’t open up.
12. Depression is a broken compass
Meaning: You don’t know what direction to go.
Example Sentence: After the loss, he felt like a broken compass.
Other ways to say: Lost, unsure what to do
Fun Fact/Origin: Compasses guide us—when they’re broken, we feel lost.
Usage: Used when depression makes it hard to make choices.
13. Depression is a wilting flower
Meaning: It drains your energy and joy.
Example Sentence: Her smile faded like a wilting flower.
Other ways to say: Losing life, feeling down
Fun Fact/Origin: Flowers wilt without care, like people without support.
Usage: Used when someone feels like they’re fading.
14. Depression is an empty backpack
Meaning: You feel like you have nothing to give or carry.
Example Sentence: He walked around feeling like an empty backpack.
Other ways to say: Feeling hollow, no purpose
Fun Fact/Origin: Backpacks carry stuff—an empty one means you feel empty too.
Usage: Used when someone feels useless or without energy.
15. Depression is a slow leak
Meaning: It slowly takes away your joy and energy.
Example Sentence: Each day felt like a slow leak draining her spirit.
Other ways to say: Fading energy, losing happiness
Fun Fact/Origin: Slow leaks aren’t loud, but they make a big difference over time.
Usage: Used when sadness builds slowly.
16. Depression is a maze with no exit
Meaning: You feel stuck and can’t find your way out.
Example Sentence: His thoughts were like a maze with no exit.
Other ways to say: Trapped, confused
Fun Fact/Origin: Mazes are hard to escape—depression can feel just as confusing.
Usage: Used when you can’t see a way to feel better.
17. Depression is a silent storm
Meaning: It’s powerful but hidden from others.
Example Sentence: Inside, she battled a silent storm.
Other ways to say: Quiet struggle, hidden pain
Fun Fact/Origin: Some storms make no sound but cause big damage.
Usage: Used when sadness is hidden.
18. Depression is a deflated balloon
Meaning: You feel like all your energy is gone.
Example Sentence: After all the stress, he was like a deflated balloon.
Other ways to say: Worn out, no spirit
Fun Fact/Origin: Balloons lose shape when they’re empty—like people can feel.
Usage: Used when someone feels tired and flat.
19. Depression is a stormy sea
Meaning: It’s full of emotional waves that are hard to control.
Example Sentence: Her heart felt like a stormy sea, with waves of sadness.
Other ways to say: Emotional, unstable
Fun Fact/Origin: The sea can be calm or rough—depression is often the rough part.
Usage: Used when feelings are all over the place.
20. Depression is a broken radio
Meaning: Your thoughts keep repeating the same sad things.
Example Sentence: His brain was like a broken radio playing sad tunes.
Other ways to say: Same thoughts over and over
Fun Fact/Origin: Radios repeat songs—depression can make you repeat thoughts.
Usage: Used when sadness repeats in your mind.
21. Depression is a fading light
Meaning: Hope and happiness slowly disappear.
Example Sentence: Her excitement dimmed like a fading light.
Other ways to say: Losing brightness, joy fading
Fun Fact/Origin: Lights that fade become hard to see—like joy during depression.
Usage: Used when someone feels their happiness slipping away.
22. Depression is an unplugged phone
Meaning: You feel disconnected from others.
Example Sentence: He felt like an unplugged phone—cut off from friends.
Other ways to say: Out of touch, not feeling connected
Fun Fact/Origin: Phones need power to work—people need connection to feel well.
Usage: Used when someone feels alone or left out.
23. Depression is a frozen lake
Meaning: You feel stuck and can’t move emotionally.
Example Sentence: Her heart felt like a frozen lake—cold and still.
Other ways to say: Stuck, numb
Fun Fact/Origin: Frozen lakes don’t move—just like feelings that seem locked.
Usage: Used when someone can’t feel or act.
24. Depression is a lost balloon
Meaning: You feel like you’re drifting away without control.
Example Sentence: His mind felt like a lost balloon, floating further each day.
Other ways to say: Drifting, unsteady
Fun Fact/Origin: Balloons float away when let go—people can feel the same.
Usage: Used when someone feels directionless.
25. Depression is a quiet room
Meaning: Nothing feels exciting or loud—it’s all still.
Example Sentence: Life felt like a quiet room where nothing made noise.
Other ways to say: Emotionless, blank feeling
Fun Fact/Origin: Quiet rooms can feel peaceful, but with depression, they can feel empty.
Usage: Used when life feels empty and silent.
26. Depression is a broken clock
Meaning: Time feels like it’s standing still.
Example Sentence: Every day felt the same, like a broken clock.
Other ways to say: Time doesn’t move, days blend
Fun Fact/Origin: Clocks track time—depression can make time feel frozen.
Usage: Used when life feels slow and dull.
27. Depression is a closed curtain
Meaning: It blocks out the world and light.
Example Sentence: Her mood was like a closed curtain—keeping the sun out.
Other ways to say: Shut off, no light inside
Fun Fact/Origin: Curtains block light, just like depression can block joy.
Usage: Used when someone avoids people or the world.
28. Depression is a quiet echo
Meaning: You feel like your thoughts bounce back but don’t get heard.
Example Sentence: He talked, but it felt like a quiet echo with no reply.
Other ways to say: Feeling ignored, unheard
Fun Fact/Origin: Echoes repeat sound—but sometimes no one answers.
Usage: Used when someone feels unnoticed.
29. Depression is a slow drip
Meaning: Sadness keeps coming, little by little.
Example Sentence: Her sadness felt like a slow drip she couldn’t stop.
Other ways to say: Ongoing sadness, never-ending
Fun Fact/Origin: Drips may be small, but over time they fill a bucket—just like emotions.
Usage: Used when sadness builds slowly every day.
30. Depression is an unplugged TV
Meaning: Nothing new happens; everything stays blank.
Example Sentence: His thoughts were like an unplugged TV—no pictures, no sound.
Other ways to say: Blank mind, nothing exciting
Fun Fact/Origin: A TV without power shows nothing—just like how depression can feel.
Usage: Used when someone feels empty or bored all the time.
31. Depression is a stuck zipper
Meaning: You can’t fix what’s wrong, no matter how hard you try.
Example Sentence: Her mood was like a stuck zipper—jammed and frustrating.
Other ways to say: Can’t fix it, trapped
Fun Fact/Origin: Stuck zippers won’t close—some problems feel like that too.
Usage: Used when someone can’t feel better no matter what they do.
32. Depression is a blank page
Meaning: You feel like you have nothing to give.
Example Sentence: He stared at the blank page, just like how his mind felt.
Other ways to say: Empty, nothing to say
Fun Fact/Origin: A blank page means nothing is written—like someone who feels numb.
Usage: Used when a person can’t express how they feel.
33. Depression is a melting snowman
Meaning: You slowly lose your shape or happiness.
Example Sentence: Each day, she felt more like a melting snowman.
Other ways to say: Fading, losing spirit
Fun Fact/Origin: Snowmen melt when it gets warm—depression can feel like you’re melting inside.
Usage: Used when a person’s energy or joy fades little by little.
34. Depression is a spinning wheel
Meaning: You keep going in circles without moving forward.
Example Sentence: His mind was like a spinning wheel—busy but stuck.
Other ways to say: Going nowhere, stuck in place
Fun Fact/Origin: Wheels spin, but they don’t move if not on the ground.
Usage: Used when someone feels busy but makes no progress.
35. Depression is a sleeping volcano
Meaning: It looks calm on the outside, but there’s hurt inside.
Example Sentence: He smiled, but inside was a sleeping volcano.
Other ways to say: Hiding feelings, quiet hurt
Fun Fact/Origin: Volcanoes seem quiet until they erupt—like people hiding their sadness.
Usage: Used when someone keeps their sadness hidden.
Quiz: Metaphors for Depression
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each metaphor. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the metaphors to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does it mean if someone says “Depression is a dark cloud”?
A) It feels like sunshine all day
B) It feels like sadness is always there
C) It means you love rain
2. If someone’s depression is a “locked room,” what are they feeling?
A) They feel safe and calm
B) They feel stuck and can’t get out
C) They are dancing
3. What does it mean if someone says “I feel like a deflated balloon”?
A) They are full of energy
B) They feel flat and tired
C) They are going to fly
4. If depression is like a “broken compass,” what is the person likely feeling?
A) They are excited for adventure
B) They know where to go
C) They are confused and lost
5. What does it mean if depression is a “stormy sea”?
A) Everything feels smooth
B) Feelings are wild and hard to control
C) It’s a sunny beach day
6. What does it mean if someone’s thoughts are like a “spinning wheel”?
A) They are running fast
B) They are thinking clearly
C) They are stuck and going in circles
7. If someone says “My mind feels like a blank page,” what are they likely feeling?
A) They have lots of ideas
B) They feel empty and quiet inside
C) They want to draw
8. What does it mean if depression is “a wilting flower”?
A) The person feels full of life
B) The person is slowly losing energy and joy
C) They love gardening
9. If depression is like “a broken radio,” what happens in your mind?
A) You sing all day
B) Your thoughts are clear
C) Sad thoughts repeat again and again
10. What does it mean if depression is a “closed curtain”?
A) The person is opening up
B) The person is blocking out light and life
C) They are playing a game
11. If someone feels like “a melting snowman,” what are they going through?
A) They are cooling off
B) They are slowly losing happiness
C) They are playing in the snow
12. What does it mean to be “a sleeping volcano” inside?
A) You are about to go on vacation
B) You are hiding your feelings, but they are still there
C) You are snoring loudly
13. If someone’s feelings are like “a quiet echo,” what might that mean?
A) They feel heard and loved
B) They feel like no one is listening
C) They love to shout in tunnels
Answer Key
- B) It feels like sadness is always there
- B) They feel stuck and can’t get out
- B) They feel flat and tired
- C) They are confused and lost
- B) Feelings are wild and hard to control
- C) They are stuck and going in circles
- B) They feel empty and quiet inside
- B) The person is slowly losing energy and joy
- C) Sad thoughts repeat again and again
- B) The person is blocking out light and life
- B) They are slowly losing happiness
- B) You are hiding your feelings, but they are still there
- B) They feel like no one is listening
Wrapping Up
Depression can feel like many things—a locked room, a stormy sea, or even a fading light. These metaphors help people talk about feelings that are hard to describe. Everyone feels low sometimes, but using these comparisons makes it easier to understand what’s going on inside. If you or someone you know feels like this, it’s okay to talk about it. You’re not alone.
