It’s time that people learn that depression is not something you can fix by saying ‘Oh Cheer Up.’

It is time that people start to understand that depression is a real thing, a chemical thing that happens in the brain. Depression is not something that a person can help having. They cannot cure it by ‘going for a walk’ or ‘eating healthy.’ Depression can be helped by those things, but it cannot be fixed. Because depression is the result of a chemical reaction in the brain, depression can only be ‘cured’ by working on the chemical reaction or by finding the cause of the depression.

There are different levels of depression. Some people have seasonal depression which means they feel really low when the weather changes. This is bad but can be managed. Some may have a bit of depression after returning from a holiday. They can still function, they just feel a bit low. But others have full-on depression where they cannot get out of bed. This is the kind of depression that needs attention. And it doesn't need the attention of ‘pull yourself together’ but it does need the attention of a doctor.

People who struggle with depression (the kind of cannot get going depression) should see a doctor and go to counseling. It is called ‘Major Depression Disorder’ and it is usually triggered by chemical reactions in the brain. It can also be triggered by traumas, either recent or going back a long time. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, many people of all ages suffer from major depression.

Major depression can come from the world we live in, stress, worry and those chemical reactions. Symptoms are severe, including fatigue, insomnia, lack of energy, no appetite, body pains and feelings of worthlessness. If you are suffering from depression, get help. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. It is real, it is common and there are people out there who can help you.