What is "Depression"?
Depression is a real illness that impacts the brain. Anyone suffering from depression will tell you, it's not imaginary or "all in your head." Depression is more than just feeling "down." It is a serious illness. People with low self-esteem, who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic appear to be more likely to experience depression. Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or poverty may make some people more vulnerable to depression. Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression causes feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person's ability to function at work and at home.
Others may say "You're depressed? Many people have been through worse and carries a heavier problems". Don't invalidate people's struggles because you've been through worse. If someone is tired after working for 5 hours and you worked for 7, it doesn't mean that they're not allowed to be tired. It doesn't mean they can't feel what they're feeling just because you've had it worse.
Many are ended up killing themselves because of depression. It isn't cowardly. What's cowardly? Treating people so badly that they want to end their lives. I hate that mental disorder have turned into a competition. You can't discuss your depression because another person has already tried to commit suicide 8 times and they're only 12. You can't discuss self harm because you punch your leg till it turns purple while they slice their arm to the bone. Every time you come close to wanting to reach out you know there's no point because in other people's eyes you're never sick enough. There's always someone worse off. This "suck it you're not as bad as me/them" HAS TO STOP! You have no idea how much a problem affects a person because it might seem like nothing to you but to them their entire world id breaking down and they just have to wait till they figure it out on their own, or become so sick that people can't deny it anymore. And by then it's usually too late. Depression is more than just being sad. Do not criticize or minimize one's pain. Just because other people have had it worse does not mean that another person's problem is irrelevant. 'Level 8' pain or 'level 10' pain is still PAIN. You do not quantify pain.
