“You have to win the battle against depression”, “what counts is not surrendering” and “this is not a short road” are examples of conceptual metaphors typically used to describe experiences and issues associated with disorders like depression.
Such expressions allude to abstract concepts but do so using familiar terms that enable better understanding of the experience. This kind of metaphor is often used unconsciously, going unnoticed by both speaker and listener. However, the study of metaphors can help access and understand the thinking, beliefs and feelings of individuals with mental disorders.
