Depression is not feeling sad for a couple days. It's not having a rough week or even a rough month. Depression is a long-term mood disorder that affects nearly everything in your life: things you once loved  you may no longer feel the same passion for; socializing may be harder, it may feel like a struggle to even smile. It's important to know the difference between having a sad day and depression. It's offensive to people who are actually depressed to say, "Ugh, I am so depressed" just because you've been feeling down lately.

Depression can cause many complications in your life. You may grow apart from your friends or lose interest in hobbies. Life may come to seem bleak and maybe not even worth living for. Your sleep cycle can get messed up, your self-esteem can lower significantly, and your digestion may even get messed up. It's important to recognize depression early on so you can get a grip on it and work towards healing.

What can I do?

Most people with depression see a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist/counselor. Some don't have the money for therapy or their parents won't allow them. In this case, it's important to surround yourself with supportive, loving people who understand what you're going through and want to help however they can. It also helps to have at least one adult who you know you can turn to for advice and help. Healing also requires effort for you: if you know you're depressed and want to get better, it's important that you work to feel better about yourself. This can include small things like getting some exercise by going for  a walk in your neighborhood, eating enough, drinking water and working to get enough sleep. Maintaining a social life can be difficult with depression, which makes it important that your friends understand that you won't always want to go out and that doesn't mean you're losing interest in being friends with them. You should, however, try your best to go out every once in awhile! It can help take your mind off of things and give you the feeling of companionship and support. Also, it's important that you learn how to break out of cycles of negative thoughts that often come along with depression. It's easy to get caught up in thoughts like, "I'm unworthy of love," "Nobody likes me," etc etc. When you're having a thought cycle like this, try asking yourself this: "How do I know? How do I know I'm unworthy of love? How do I know that nobody likes me?" Often times our minds trick us into falling for negative thoughts, which in turn makes it harder for us to feel better about ourselves. It's critical to recognize this and learn how to distract yourself from these thoughts so they don't consume you. It's hard -- but very much worth it. It's also a good idea to form coping mechanisms: things that take you away from your negative thoughts and feelings for awhile. Some people draw, listen to music, go for a walk, watch a favorite movie. It's up to you to decide what works for you!

How can I support someone who is dealing with depression?

It's incredibly important that you first educate yourself on depression. Do research, ask your friend questions (that are respectful and not invasive). Never make assumptions. If you've never dealt with depression, it can be a hard thing to understand. Communicate to your friend that you want to be there for them and help them in any way you can. Learn what coping mechanisms and affirmations work for them. Make sure to reassure them that you won't leave them and that you love them, despite their depression. Let them know that they are important and they are worthy of love and the good things in life. Sometimes your affirmations won't be enough to cheer them up, and that doesn't mean that you're not trying hard enough or that they don't appreciate your efforts. You need to be patient. Depression is not something that will go away with a hug and affection (though these can help!); keep in mind that it is a psychological condition that takes time to be treated.