There are so many people who think depression isn’t real, that it’s all just in a persons head. Most of these people think it’s not real because they don’t suffer from it. Some people suffer from it without even knowing they do. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed, you may be suffering from clinical depression. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and know that you are not alone and there is hope. Depression is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It’s a mental illness and it can happen to anyone. If someone you know is showing signs of the symptoms listed, please reach out to them, calmly, patiently, and non-judgmentally. And please keep in mind, depression is not just in a persons head and they cannot just “snap out of it.”

Symptoms of depression:

• feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
• persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• irritability
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• decreased energy or fatigue
• insomnia or oversleeping
• appetite and/or weight changes
• thoughts of death or suicide
• aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause

Your mental illness does not define who you are. You have a mental illness, you are not your mental illness. For example, if you suffer from depression, you are not your depression, you have depression. Your depression does not define who you are. Whatever your mental illness may be, you are not your mental illness.