Woman Struggling With Depression Shares 95-Year-Old Gran’s Powerful Advice

An older generation can be known for offering pearls of wisdom, and one grandmother has gone viral after her sound advice was viewed by millions.

Granddaughter Christina Symes, 29, told Newsweek that she was confiding in her gran about the place she was in mentally and decided to post the advice on TikTok.

In the clip, which has received over 3 million views, 95-year-old Christine breaks Symes’ day down into small chunks, helping her navigate through a difficult time in her life.

“Look at yourself in the mirror, wash your face, put your makeup on, put your clothes on and then say, What must I do next? I must have a little breakfast, or I must have a cup of tea, and then I will start to do this little thing that needs doing,” the grandmother begins.

Experiencing the death of a close relative and the breakdown of a 10-year relationship caused Symes to develop agoraphobia, which meant she could no longer live independently in London.

She moved in with her grandmother, who became housebound a few years ago, and Symes has spent countless hours talking and listening to Christine, whom she says she is very close to.

“I often record her advice so I can listen back to it in future, because what she says can be so poignant,” Symes told Newsweek.

“When I was a young child living abroad, before social media was big, she would post me tapes of her talking and reading stories, which I found very comforting,” she said.

Once the basics are covered and Symes has completed a task that may have taken two or three hours, Christine advises her in the video to go for a cup of tea as her reward.

“I deserve it because I’ve done those things, and I can take pride in the fact you’ve done them. Never mind about what else has happened years ago, what’s going to happen in the future,” Christine says.

The advice shared in the now viral clip has been especially impactful for the 29-year-old, who is an award-winning artist. “Often, when I think of everything as a whole, it feels far too overwhelming, and I end up not being able to do anything,” she said.

“Whereas if it’s broken down into small steps with little rewards afterwards, as my gran mentions, it can feel more manageable. Then, the little steps in turn lead to bigger steps, and more progress can be made. Sometimes the most important advice can be the most simple advice,” she said.

Recent research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exacerbated mental health issues across all age groups but particularly those in their late 20s.

A study published by The Lancet Psychiatry in 2021 found increased levels of depression and anxiety, particularly among younger adults. Specifically, for adults aged 16 to 39, depression rates increased notably during the pandemic.

Symes’ TikTok video brought thousands of comments from other TikTok users who “needed” to hear Christine’s advice.

“Some people don’t realise how lucky they are to have grandparents, they need to be cherished,” one user wrote.

“Her voice is a warm blanket and perfect cup of tea—it’s just amazing,” another commented.

Following the overwhelming response on social media, Symes told Newsweek that it’s given both her and her gran more of a sense of purpose.

“Making TikToks is something we can do from the comfort of the living room, potentially helping thousands—if not millions—of people, regardless of agoraphobia or being housebound,” she said.

If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, help is available at Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Is there a health problem that’s worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.