Most people think of complete sadness when they think of depression. Don't get me wrong, depression does cause a great deal of misery - but sadness is not a symptom of depression.

Sadness is the feeling you get when something terrible happened. That feeling when someone dies, you get your heartbroken, fail a class, or fight with a friend. Depression is a non-stop ache in your chest. Depression is having the best day of your life, and waking up the next morning feeling like you got hit by a train. In short, sadness is a feeling, depression is a disease.

So we need to stop assuming that depression always looks like sadness. It's anxiety, anger, shyness, forgetfulness...it's every evil, chaotic feeling you can think of that forms this massive cancer. But sometimes depression is none of these. Sometimes there's happiness, hope, and excitement. I'm so sick of hearing people say "He/she can't be depressed, they are smiling and laughing!" Because when you're depressed, everyday is a struggle, and though those days may have good moments, each night you feel the same: empty.

If you've never experienced depression, then you are the lucky one. Take this knowledge and learn to recognize depression. Help someone. End the stigma.

For those of you that are struggling with this disease, take everything one day at a time. Hold out of those good days. They are ahead of you.