Art Imitates Life

For countless people, this is the true face of depression: a smiling face, hiding or downplaying unhealthy coping mechanisms, denying the existence of a problem. Thor does his best to reassure and deflect his pain from his friends, “I know you think I’m down here wallowing in my pity waiting to be rescued. And saved. I’m fine.” That is why it is crucially important to be able to identify the true, often overlooked signs of depression in yourself and others. Professor Hulk is able to see through Thor’s misdirection because it was a personal struggle he was familiar with, “I get it. You’re in a rough spot. I’ve been there myself. And you want to know who helped me out of it?...It was you. You helped me.” This shows that when you experience depression, how you appear to yourself is not an accurate representation of how the rest of the world views you. When others say they want you around or need your help, they see something in you that your depression may be hindering the ability to see for yourself.

You’re Still Worthy

We see in Thor: Ragnarok the destruction of Mjölnir, the god of thunder’s beloved hammer,which he falsely believes to be the source of his strength and power. At the climax of the third act, Odin appears to Thor and provides some much needed tough love. “Are you Thor, the god of hammers?” he sarcastically inquires to his son who is struggling to realize his inner strength and potential. Dealing with depression can often feel as if we’re struggling with the loss of our own personal Mjölnir. In reality, you are not god of the material things that you may have lost; your true strength lies in the support you draw from loved ones and through seeking professional help.

Thor’s depression is a consistent barrier to achieving his goals, yet when he travels through time and is given the encouragement and opportunity to see if he can summon Mjölnir once again, we can see the hesitation and uncertainty on his face as he braces for the answer. This is what depression is, a learned helplessness and a doubt that you are worthy. Despite his appearance, actions and attitude, he is still the same Thor at heart and he will always be worthy. It’s no different for mortals such as you and me than it is for an Asguardian.

I’ll leave you with this parting inspiration, one of my favorites in the movie that’s given to Thor by his mother Frigga: “That makes you just like everyone else…Everyone fails at who they’re supposed to be, Thor. A measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are.” Remember that any mental health issue you may be struggling with doesn’t change who you truly are, and we can succeed in controlling or overcoming these challenges through our support network.

And that is, to channel my inner Stan Lee one more time, “’Nuff said!”