MDD

What does it mean to be depressed? 

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According to Google dictionary, it is "severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy."

According to Merriam-Webster, depression is "the

 state of feeling sad."
A medical website defines depression as "feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps." It then goes on to say that most people feel this way at some point.

What does it mean to be depressed though?

Well, I'll tell you.

It means feeling miserable without knowing why. 

It means walking around with a raincloud over your head all day. Every day. For weeks at a time.

It means that even when things are going fine, you're still frustrated and the fact that you're frustrated while things are just fine just makes you more miserable.

It means feeling completely, one hundred percent alone. 

It means not being able to get out of bed in the morning because you think there's no reason to get up. 

When you're depressed, the world is grey. Where did all the colors go? And why aren't the birds singing? They are singing, but you can't hear them.

Being depressed is like looking at your life and seeing a hollow shell. It seems like no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to fill that hollow shell with things that matter. All the things you've done seem inadequate, and you feel like there's no hope because you've already spent your whole life doing things that you thought would matter but actually didn't. So what makes you think you can change it?

Being depressed makes even the tiniest misfortunes seem like the entire universe has turned against you. Did your pencil break during class? You might be out for the next ten minutes crying about it.

Being depressed means being withdrawn. You don't want to be around anyone because they don't understand. They don't understand why you're upset, and they don't see why you feel so hopeless. They try to give you advice when all you really want is for someone to just sit with you and say "Yes, life sucks sometimes," or just give you a hug.

Honestly, being depressed sucks. It doesn't last forever, but it feels like it's going to. And that's the worst thing about it. 

If you know someone who is depressed--and you probably do because 20-26% of women and 8-12% of men suffer from Major Depressive Disorder--please. Don't give them advice. Unless they ask for it specifically, that's not what they want. Just let them talk to you so they don't feel alone. Give them a hug. Or a cookie. Or a pencil. Just let them know you care, and that you are there for them. Depression can last for weeks at a time. And who wants to feel alone and friendless for even one day? One hour? Five minutes?