How Captain America Saved My Life For Real

How a superhero literally saved my life.
stories · 4 min
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I find it hard sometimes to ignore the fact that a fictional character saved my life. It sounds pathetic, I admit, but this character has given me much more than you would think. He gave me hope when I had lost it all. He gave me strength when I thought about giving up. He gave me my life when I thought about taking it away. For these reasons, I believe in Captain America, the superhero that saved my life. 

how Captain America inspired me to live in real life
Image Source: Comingsoon.net

Captain America really helped me during the summer of 2017, which I consider to be the worst year of my life. Two unfavorable relationships, one being a toxic boyfriend and the other a harmful addiction, managed to ruin my life completely. I found myself falling further and further into an ever-growing spiral of depression.

At the time, I'd been living with depression and anxiety for a little over four years, so I knew my way around a rough patch. I don't think of that summer as a rough patch, though; I think of it as a terrifying experience. It's genuinely frightening to have thoughts of suicide running through your head at least once a day for almost six months straight. 

It's a bit difficult to function when there's a little monster inside your head with a compelling sales pitch for death. How was I supposed to focus on life when this menace constantly tried to sell me death at 90% off?

Every day was just a constant stream of pop-up ads that blocked all the good things and replaced them with bad things. Though, there was something deep inside me that desperately wanted to find the good underneath the big ugly pile of bad. My love for movies was one such thing that managed to breach the surface. 

One movie that I could not wait to see was Avengers: Infinity War. It came out in the spring of 2018, which, at the time, meant that I had to wait a little less than a year to see it. I thought this might be a good opportunity to find some hope, so I used my love for Captain America to ground myself.

Sure, I was going through an awful time, but I could wait until I saw Infinity War, right? After all, Captain America's in it, so I had to see it. 'You can stick around until the spring,' I told myself. "After that, you can leave.'

With this in mind, throughout the summer, whenever I found myself slipping further into that growing spiral of depression, I reminded myself of this movie that I just had to see. I latched onto Captain America, and I didn't let go. Sometimes you have to force yourself to keep going.

Even when all the odds are against you and the only thing you want to do is curl up and hide, you have to find that something, something to convince yourself that it's worth it to fight. You search for hope in something, anything, that might just get you through one more week, one more day, one more hour.

When I thought I had lost all hope and was ready to let the darkness take over, Captain America was there to shine a light on one simple thing that managed to keep me going. I found that he was my hope. 

I continue to use this motive today, and I find that it genuinely helps. Though my depression may make me blind, deep down, I know there's a light somewhere that will bring me out of the darkness, but it's up to me to find it. I often find that light in places others might not consider to be important.

For me, Infinity War was much more than a brilliant film; it was a lifesaver. For me, Civil War was much more than the third movie to the Captain America trilogy; it was a lifesaver. For me, Far From Home was much more than the new spiderman movie I couldn't wait to see; it was a lifesaver. For me, Captain America is much more than a comic book superhero; he's my superhero.

Captain America gave me the strength I needed when I was ready to give up. I had to fight this evil inside my head, even if it meant searching for hope in the most desperate of places.

He showed me that I could fight for my life, that I didn't have to give it up to my illness. I learned from him that you have to fight for what you believe in, and I believe in Captain America because I believe that life is worth the fight.

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Closet-Dreams_99 commented Closet-Dreams_99 3 years ago

Their description of depression as a monster trying to sell death is chillingly accurate

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HollywoodActorFan_Mila commented HollywoodActorFan_Mila 3 years ago

What a powerful reminder that help can come from unexpected places

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EllaTravels commented EllaTravels 3 years ago

Finding strength in fictional characters isn't weakness, it's wisdom

3
Deeply_Connected_777 commented Deeply_Connected_777 3 years ago

This shows how stories can be more than just entertainment

3
HappinessBlueprint commented HappinessBlueprint 3 years ago

The author's journey from despair to hope is really inspiring

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DramaSeriesLover commented DramaSeriesLover 3 years ago

Sometimes our heroes save us in ways they never could have imagined

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HudsonBell commented HudsonBell 3 years ago

Reading about others finding their way through darkness gives me hope

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Lowry_Ledger commented Lowry_Ledger 3 years ago

This really captures the importance of finding your own reasons to keep going

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MovieReel_Jack commented MovieReel_Jack 3 years ago

The parallel between Cap's never give up attitude and mental health struggles is spot on

6
BelieveAchieve commented BelieveAchieve 3 years ago

Love how they turned their fandom into a survival tool

3
MoveAndThrive commented MoveAndThrive 3 years ago

This story shows how powerful having something to look forward to can be

7
AlainaH commented AlainaH 3 years ago

The way they describe fighting depression as a battle really works

4
JosephineX commented JosephineX 3 years ago

I relate so much to finding hope in future movie releases

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Nova_Sunset commented Nova_Sunset 3 years ago

Sometimes fictional heroes help us find our real strength

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Lara_Twilight commented Lara_Twilight 3 years ago

Using Cap as inspiration to fight internal battles is actually perfect

4
HannahTorres commented HannahTorres 3 years ago

The author's honesty about their struggles is really brave

5
RadiateHappiness commented RadiateHappiness 3 years ago

This really shows the healing power of narrative

1
DressTo_Impress commented DressTo_Impress 3 years ago

It's incredible how stories can reach us when nothing else can

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LucySanders commented LucySanders 3 years ago

The way they describe holding onto hope through fiction is so relatable

3
TwilightPhantom commented TwilightPhantom 3 years ago

Such a powerful example of finding strength in unexpected places

1
Michael commented Michael 3 years ago

The comparison of depression to pop-up ads blocking out good things is incredibly accurate

1
LiveTheatreEnthusiast_55 commented LiveTheatreEnthusiast_55 3 years ago

This reminds me why representation in media matters so much

1
QuantumDreamer commented QuantumDreamer 3 years ago

I love how they turned their passion for movies into a reason to keep fighting

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Michael-Ray commented Michael-Ray 3 years ago

The author really captures how depression distorts our perception of reality

1
Bella_Whimsy commented Bella_Whimsy 3 years ago

This shows why we shouldn't judge what helps others cope

4
LostSignalX commented LostSignalX 3 years ago

I never thought about how waiting for a movie could be a survival strategy. That's powerful

6
Grayson_2010 commented Grayson_2010 3 years ago

Sometimes we need external symbols to remind us of our internal strength

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Dapper-Aesthetic commented Dapper-Aesthetic 3 years ago

The part about forcing yourself to keep going really resonated with me

0
Zombie_Movie_Survivor commented Zombie_Movie_Survivor 3 years ago

It's amazing how stories can save us when we least expect it

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Faith_67 commented Faith_67 3 years ago

Reading this made me reflect on my own anchors during tough times

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ZoeyCarter commented ZoeyCarter 3 years ago

The way they describe using movies as future anchors is actually brilliant

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MovieBuff247 commented MovieBuff247 3 years ago

I appreciate how the author acknowledges it might sound silly but owns their truth anyway

5
SilentFrequency commented SilentFrequency 3 years ago

This really highlights how crucial it is to have something to look forward to

3
Comic-Con_Lover commented Comic-Con_Lover 3 years ago

The strength it takes to keep fighting when everything feels hopeless is truly Captain America worthy

4
Aimee-Fischer commented Aimee-Fischer 3 years ago

Finding hope in heroes isn't pathetic, it's human

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Fiona99 commented Fiona99 3 years ago

This story shows how important representation in media really is

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Tessa-Gibson commented Tessa-Gibson 3 years ago

The way they described depression as pop-up ads is spot on

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Adeline_Skies commented Adeline_Skies 3 years ago

Just because something is fictional doesn't make its impact any less real

4
Goodman_Guide commented Goodman_Guide 3 years ago

We all need our own version of Cap saying I can do this all day

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MagicOfLove commented MagicOfLove 3 years ago

I totally get latching onto something that gives you purpose, even if others might not understand it

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ReelMagic commented ReelMagic 3 years ago

The author really captured how depression lies to us about our worth

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SelfLovePractice commented SelfLovePractice 3 years ago

There's something so powerful about having a symbol to hold onto when everything else feels dark

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CrimeDramaSeriesBuff_777 commented CrimeDramaSeriesBuff_777 3 years ago

I understand this completely. Batman stories helped me through similar times

1
Ruby-Fisher commented Ruby-Fisher 3 years ago

The parallel between Cap never giving up and fighting personal battles is beautiful

3
Bessie_Blossom commented Bessie_Blossom 3 years ago

This article perfectly captures how fiction can be a lifeline

7
Ava-Davis commented Ava-Davis 3 years ago

Sometimes the smallest things can become our biggest reasons to survive

5
Noah_News commented Noah_News 3 years ago

Anyone else find themselves using upcoming movies or shows as reasons to keep going?

1
Radiate-Happiness_555 commented Radiate-Happiness_555 3 years ago

Really appreciate the raw honesty in sharing this experience

3
Mckenzie_Star commented Mckenzie_Star 3 years ago

Such a powerful reminder that hope can come from unexpected sources

7
CyberMystic commented CyberMystic 3 years ago

The way they described the 'monster with a sales pitch for death' is haunting but so accurate

8
Sarah_87 commented Sarah_87 3 years ago

I love how Cap represents standing up against bullies, even when the bully is in your own mind

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Organized-And_Happy_2024 commented Organized-And_Happy_2024 3 years ago

People who haven't experienced depression might not understand, but sometimes you need whatever works to stay alive

0
Dahlia99 commented Dahlia99 3 years ago

Interesting how the author used future movie releases as milestone markers to keep going

6
Glam_Affair commented Glam_Affair 3 years ago

The line about fighting for what you believe in really hits home

8
Designer_Luxe commented Designer_Luxe 3 years ago

This reminds me of how much the first Captain America movie helped me through my own struggles

8
MindfulMoves commented MindfulMoves 3 years ago

Actually disagree with some comments here. Having strong connections to fictional characters can be really healthy

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Glam_Society commented Glam_Society 3 years ago

Never underestimate the power of having something to look forward to, no matter how small it might seem to others

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Movie_Costume_Designer_22 commented Movie_Costume_Designer_22 3 years ago

Sometimes fictional characters embody the qualities we need to find in ourselves

4
BestFilmScores_Ever commented BestFilmScores_Ever 3 years ago

The metaphor of finding light in unexpected places really speaks to me

1
WeddingBellsRing commented WeddingBellsRing 3 years ago

Not to diminish anyone's experience, but shouldn't we encourage seeking professional help rather than fictional solutions?

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HaleyWanders commented HaleyWanders 3 years ago

What's really powerful is how the author turned waiting for a movie into a survival strategy

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BingeMode_Alex commented BingeMode_Alex 3 years ago

I needed to read this today. Currently going through my own battle and looking for my own anchor

5
Kroll_Keynotes commented Kroll_Keynotes 3 years ago

The way the author describes depression as pop-up ads blocking out the good things really captures how it feels

8
WarpedRealities commented WarpedRealities 3 years ago

Mental health struggles are so real and finding anything that helps you cope is valid

4
Barnes_Broadcast commented Barnes_Broadcast 3 years ago

I actually found similar comfort in Thor's arc through depression in Endgame. Sometimes superheroes help us face our own battles

4
Krugman_Column commented Krugman_Column 4 years ago

I think what makes Cap such a powerful symbol is that he represents hope and perseverance against impossible odds

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ReginaH commented ReginaH 4 years ago

It's amazing how Steve Rogers continues to inspire people even outside the comics and movies

3
MindfulMunchies commented MindfulMunchies 4 years ago

Thanks for sharing such a vulnerable story. Many of us have our own version of Captain America that helps us keep fighting

0
HackerMind commented HackerMind 4 years ago

The part about using Infinity War as a goal to look forward to really struck me. Sometimes we need those small things to keep us going

7
MovieDirector_Wannabe commented MovieDirector_Wannabe 4 years ago

While I respect the author's experience, I worry about people becoming too dependent on fictional characters for emotional support

1
Harper commented Harper 4 years ago

I understand completely using movies as anchors to hold onto. The Marvel films helped me through some really tough times too

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SciFi_Nerd_3000 commented SciFi_Nerd_3000 4 years ago

The power of fiction to heal and inspire is really underappreciated. Sometimes fictional characters can reach us in ways real people can't

1
The-Wellness_Edit_2024 commented The-Wellness_Edit_2024 4 years ago

This resonates with me so deeply. I also found hope in unexpected places during my darkest times

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