Depression is a fickle of a thing. Sometimes, it comes on because of our genetics. Other times, it gets triggered from life. Regardless of how common depression is, it feels a little different for all of us. Most importantly, it just feels crappy. Depression will try feeding you a lot of lies to keep you in its grip. Here are the 10 lies your depression will tell you when you’re feeling down.

I’ve included combat mantras to repeat to yourself when you’re feeling depressed. Allow yourself to have the thought, acknowledge it, and then repeat to yourself the combat mantra. Feel free to substitute for your own! Be sure that it is positive and empowering.

1. You’re worthless.

This is at the top of my list when I’m feeling depressed. You are not worthless. You are wonderful. You are competent. You are talented. I don’t need to know you personally to be able to say these things about you because there is no other you on this earth and there never will be again. You are so worthy.

Combat mantra: I am worthy because I am me.

2. Nobody cares about you.

This may be the biggest lie depression tells. There are a lot of people that care about you. Since we weren’t given the power of “mind-reading” as humans (thank God, because mine is just internal screaming), we can’t assume what people truly think about us. This also means that we have no idea how much people think about us and who they are. I think if every single person who cares about you came up to you and said, “Hey, I care about you”, you’d be shocked at the number of unexpected faces who show up.

Combat mantra: I am loved by many people and I accept their love willingly.

3. You’re a failure.

You’re not a loser. You’re not a failure. You’re not a failure at work, in your relationships, at home, with your kids, with your friends, anywhere. You’re successful in many areas of your life. Don’t knock your achievements. Sometimes, we do fail. It sucks. It’s embarrassing. It hurts. But it doesn’t make you a failure.

Combat mantra: Because I have faced failure, I know how to get back up again.

4. Why bother when you’re going to mess it all up?

This goes for getting out of bed, attempting make-up and a decent outfit, going to work or class, putting effort into your relationships. Self-sabotage does not discriminate, my friend. It does not need to be perfect. A therapist once told me, “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly”. Focus on ending the cycle of sabotage by doing it anyway. You may not feel good in the moment, but you will afterwards. You’ll be okay in the end. Pinky promise.

Combat mantra: Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.

5. Everybody hates you.

False. From a realistic view point, the number of people who actually spend their precious time seething about your hairstyle is probably slim. There are a lot of people who love you in this life. There are a lot of people who are rooting for you, including me. Trying to guess people’s thoughts will always lead to a road of negativity and false assumptions. Instead, focus on the kind things that people have said to you in the past.

Combat mantra: I am a lovable person who is loved by many. My friends and family truly care about me, even when they show it in unexpected ways.

6. Nobody will understand.

Actually, there are plenty of people that will understand. In the US, depression is one of the leading mental illnesses with a large number of people suffering every day. Some people only experience one episode in their life. Some people experience an episode of depression every day. You are not some weird person living on another planet because you battle this.

Combat mantra: I am not weird or strange because of my battles. My battles are an opportunity to connect with others.

7. There is nothing good happening in life.

Depression can act like a shield that comes down on all the good things going on. What seemed okay yesterday, last week, or a few months ago is now an utter disaster. The truth is that it’s still all okay. There is always something good going on in your life, even when the bad is ugly. Taking some time at the end of the day to make a list of 3 things that are good in your life is a great way to try to break apart the depression. Easier said than done. Be gentle with yourself.

Combat mantra: I am grateful for another day with my loved ones.

8. You don’t deserve good things.

This ties in heavily with #1. You do deserve good things. You deserve all the good things! This depression isn’t hanging out because somewhere down the line you messed up and this is your punishment. You can’t go back and change the past. You can’t control the future. But you can work on believing in yourself in the now.

Combat mantra: I am worthy of the good things in my life. I do not need to earn the love I receive.

9. Your life isn’t worth living.

Your life is the only thing that is truly yours forever, and we only get one of them. When the depression gets bad, it’s harder to get out of bed, go to work, hang out with friends. While your depression makes it seem like your pillow is the best option, it’s not. Get outside, even if it’s for 5 minutes. People may not be directly telling you every day how much you impact their lives, but they do tell you in subtle ways, like telling you to “be careful and stay safe”, saying “I love you”, saying “I’m proud of you”, giving you a hug, returning your smile. You are so very important. Please remember that.

Combat mantra: My life is a precious gift. I’m going to live today as if it were truly my last.

10. The only way to get rid of this is to end it all.

First off, I need you to bookmark this page. It opens in a new tab so I’ll be right here once you’ve bookmarked those pages. I need you to understand something, and it’s maybe one of the most important things I’ll ever tell you. I need you to stay. Please. I don’t know if anyone knows about your thoughts or your plans, but I need you to stay. And I’m not the only one. Your family, your friends, unexpected strangers, we all need you to stay. Even if staying hurts. Even if staying means rehab. Even if staying means facing the really scary fears.

Combat mantra: Every moment will not be as bad as this. I will get through this moment. I’ll feel better once I see this through.