Actress Brings The Invisible Struggle Of Depression To Life In This Video, Internet Can’t Stop Watching It

Depression doesn’t always look the way we expect. It is not always tears or outbursts. For many, it is quiet, subtle and easy to miss, even by themselves. It can manifest as a loss of interest in things

once enjoyed, difficulty focusing or a heaviness that seems impossible to explain. Because it is not always visible, many dismiss it as stress, fatigue or simply a ‘bad mood,’ pushing through daily routines while carrying an invisible weight. Ukrainian actress Tania Galakhova’s latest Instagram sketch brings this hidden struggle to life in a way that words alone often fail to capture.

In the short video, Galakhova portrays a woman whose day-to-day activities are silently weighed down by depression, represented as a shadowy figure in a black suit that only she can see.

The video begins with Galakhova sitting on the floor, scrolling through her phone and snacking, mundane activities that many can relate to. Yet, the depression figure mirrors her actions, showing how it lingers even during ordinary moments. When she tries to brush her teeth, the entity snatches the toothbrush away. It seemed to be a visual metaphor for how depression can sap motivation, making even basic self-care feel impossible.

As she attempts to leave her room, the depression blocks the door. On a bus, the entity clings to her, showing how depression can feel like an invisible weight carried everywhere. When with friends, the entity hovers behind her, covering her ears.

In a park, depression places sunglasses over her eyes, making the world look dull and colourless. This shows how depression can make everything feel numb and gray. When someone tries to hug her, the shadow pushes them away. The video ends with Galakhova carrying the weight of depression on her shoulders.

“Depression is real,” she wrote as caption. “If you recognise yourself – you didn’t realise it.”

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A post shared by 🕊Таня Галахова (@tanya_galakhova)

The video went viral online.

A user commented, “You explained how depression feels very well.”

Another shared, “The gray glasses are so real for me. After my brother passed the world literally became more dull and lifeless. All colours were muted. He passed in the spring and all the bright flowers were suddenly drab.”

“This is a perfect description,” a comment read.

“That’s exactly how it goes. Accurate,” another comment said.

Someone wrote, “Omg this video describes everything so well.”

Depression is a common mental health condition that causes persistent sadness or loss of interest in activities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Globally, around 332 million people live with depression. About 4-6 per cent of adults experience it, with women affected about 1.5 times more than men. Suicide, often linked to depression, is a leading cause of death among young adults, with over 7 lakh lives lost each year, as per the WHO.