I can't tell you how many times I've let the dishes pile up, waited a month to do laundry, or didn't cook dinner for weeks at a time. I can't tell you how many times I've sat in bed staring at the wall, telling myself I have so many other important things I could be doing but continue to stare anyways. I can't tell you how many times I've set my alarm for 9 in the morning but continued to lay in bed until 8 o'clock at night, with every intention to get up at 9 a.m. and be productive, but lacking the motivation or energy to do so.

One time I sat on my bathroom floor and started crying because I knew I had to take a shower but couldn't get myself to do it, no matter how hard I tried. A normal person would simply go into the bathroom, undress, start the water and get in; I'm not a normal person.

It's not all the time, but when it creeps up on you, it's overwhelming and consuming. It devours you until there is nothing left.

Pathetic. Useless. Incapable. Lazy. Worthless. Incompetent.

Every single one of these words has been used to describe me at one point or another. I'd be lying if I said at the time I thought they were wrong. Trust me; you don't need to say them out loud because anyone with depression is already thinking them. Add anxiety into the mix and everything seems to hit rock bottom at once.

What I didn't know before that I picked up on a few years ago is that depression doesn't have the ability to dictate who I am as a person. Just because it debilitates me and makes it impossible to do day to day activities sometimes, doesn't make me any less of a person.

Determined. Intelligent. Outgoing. Happy. Brave. Spontaneous.

Guess what? I've also been described using every single one of those words. There are so many people in this world that care; so many people that want the best for you.

A lot of the time people struggling with depression keep it in because they think no one wants to know someone is weak. No one wants to be best friends with someone who is uncontrollably sad sometimes. No one wants to be in a relationship with someone who can't get the motivation to take care of themselves for multiple days or weeks in a row.

You are not weak for asking for help. You've had to be strong for so long that your mind and your body need a break. You're allowed to lay in bed all day; you're allowed to let your laundry build up. If all you do today is get up to get a glass of water, that's okay. I'm proud of you, I am on your side, and I am here for you. I get it, but people care so much; you just have to let them.

I am not defined by my depression, and neither are you.