If you have a learning disorder, you might feel like no matter how hard you try, certain things just don’t seem to click. Maybe reading feels like trying to crack a code, or math equations seem like a jumble of numbers and symbols that never quite make sense.

While there are plenty of academic supports available for students with learning disorders (LDs), the frustrations that come with having one can make you feel really bad about yourself and affect your happiness outside of school. Learning disorders have nothing to do with intelligence, but they can take a serious emotional toll — research shows that people with LDs are more prone to depression than those without them.

But understanding the link between learning disorders and depression can help you find the right support.

A cycle: How depression impacts learning (and vice versa)

Someone once described depression to me as watching the world slowly lose its color, or as if it’s raining inside every day. Specific symptoms can vary from person to person but often include:

• Weight gain or loss

• Irritability

• Loss of interest in daily activities

• Constantly feeling tired or exhausted

• Feelings of low self-worth and hopelessness

School makes up a significant part of the day, and being in an environment where we constantly compare ourselves to others can easily contribute to feelings of low self-worth.

If you have a learning disorder, you might say negative things to yourself like, “I’m just not built for this,” or “What’s wrong with me?” Critical comments from teachers or peers, such as “You should’ve been able to figure this out by now,” can trigger these negative thoughts — especially if you are undiagnosed or they don’t know about your diagnosis.

And as you get older and move through school, academic challenges can snowball in unexpected ways. Work that once seemed manageable quickly piles up as each new skill builds on the last. One moment, you're learning how to read, and before you know it, you’re expected to read to learn, give group presentations, and — wait, math has… letters? Beyond the classroom, everyday tasks like keeping track of measurements while baking or following along in conversations may feel like uphill battles, too.

When low self-worth leads to depression, it doesn’t just affect how you feel — it can exacerbate existing learning problems. Research shows that depression can:

• Slow information processing

• Slow memory consolidation, or how your brain transforms the things you learn into long-term memories

• Make it harder to pay attention and concentrate

• Interfere with sleep, which can also impact your ability to function.

An LD diagnosis can bring some relief, but it is not an instant fix — nor is it a straightforward process for everyone. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed due to disruptive behavior, while girls may retreat into themselves, making their challenges harder for teachers to spot.

What you can do about it

The relationship between learning disorders and depression can leave you feeling trapped, but there are ways to disrupt the cycle.

Instead of letting negative self-talk take over when faced with a difficult problem — for example, saying to yourself, “I’m terrible at math” — try speaking through the steps of the task ​​as you do them. Beating yourself up makes it harder for you to focus on what you‘re doing, explains neuropsychologist Laura Phillips, PsyD. Verbalizing the process helps you focus, interrupting the strain on your working memory that self-deprecation causes.  

​​​Learning to pay attention to — and deflect — negative self-talk is a powerful place to start. And because learning disorders don’t magically disappear when you’re not in school, remember that it’s completely normal to need non-academic support, too. If you’re struggling with symptoms of depression, or simply feeling overwhelmed or really down on yourself, consider reaching out to a parent, trusted teacher, guidance counselor, or mental health professional for more support.