When you hear the word "depression," what do you think of? Sadness? Guilt? Grief? Anger? The thing is, depression is not an emotion. We toss this word around and constantly use it in the wrong context. Depression is not feeling sad. Depression is not heartbreak. Depression is not feeling betrayed. Depression is a mental illness. And it's starting to engulf an increasing number of people in our generation, including myself.

I thought it was just the stress of starting college. But it crept into my relationships: with friends, with my boyfriend, with my family. And soon enough, I realized that it was out of my control. It was bigger than me. Thankfully, I had all my loved ones to help me realize this. They helped me realize that I was not depressed, but I had depression. And it did not make me crazy. It was not me, or a part of me, it was just something I had to fight through. And I still do on a daily basis.

According to

Healthline, 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression and anxiety. Eight percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 reported having a major depressive episode between the years of 2008 and 2010. And there is no doubt this number has risen with the increased use of technology, social media, and the general pressure dumped on the people of our generation.

Depression and anxiety cannot be easily explained. It's one of those "you have to experience it for yourself to understand it" situations. Whether you or a loved one have dealt with depression and anxiety, there is one thing that everyone should understand: it does not make you crazy. It is beyond your own control. And it's not a choice.

With depression, simple tasks are harder. Your personality is distorted. And you constantly feel like you're surrounded by a dark, cloudy mist. There are times where you cry for absolutely no reason at all and the last thing you want is for anybody to touch you. All you want to do is lay down in fetal position, cut off from the rest of the world. It is easy to get overwhelmed, even with things that used to be a breeze. Socializing becomes like rocket science, and you wonder how you ever had any friends in the first place. You feel as if you're walking through jello with 10 pound weights on your shoulders. That little voice in the back of your mind that tells you everything that is wrong with you is louder than ever. And during some episodes, there is absolutely nothing you can do to turn it off.

Nine times out of ten, there is no explanation to why you feel the way you do. If someone were to ask you what was wrong, "I don't know," would be the absolute truth. There is nothing wrong, even though you're hysterically crying and your heart is stinging with pain. It's paralyzing. And you feel like you're being attacked by something you can't escape from.

The Mighty surveyed their own readers who deal with depression and anxiety and asked them what they wish the world could understand about it:

The smallest things can set me off. The more trapped I feel, the worst off I am. Personal space will always make me feel better. Manda Ree.

I'm not doing it for attention. Georgia Tsaganis Johnson.

Just because you don't understand doesn't mean my fears aren't real. Vicki Happ.

All the logic in the world won't keep my heart from hammering in my chest. Rebecca V. Cowcill.

Prayer doesn't make it disappear. Kayla Gosse.

You can't just get over mental illness. Heather Morello.

It's totally possible to have social anxiety and be a raging extrovert. May Daonna.

The Mayo Clinic shows how a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan can compare brain activity during periods of depression (left) with normal brain activity (right). An increase of blue and green colors, along with decreased white and yellow areas, shows decreased brain activity due to depression.

Even though emotions are jacked up, simple tasks are made difficult, and crying becomes easier, hope is still possible. Fighting is still an option. And believing that The Lord is going to use you for good will always be the truth. I'll never understand why I fight daily, but I will once God uses it for His glory. And that's one of the only things bringing me through it.

The handful of people who know what I am dealing with have been much more than a support system. They have been my backbone and hands to catch me when I think I'm about to fall. Researching and gaining knowledge about mental illness has made me realize that I'm not alone. There is medicine that helps, and it's just like any other sickness because sometimes, the brain gets sick, too. It's not easy, but it doesn't get harder if you focus on the right path. You learn to appreciate the really good times. With the right medication, I became the happy-go-lucky person I was before. I get along with my mom, I try my hardest to look on the positive side of situations, and I constantly surround myself with happy vibes. I still struggle, sometimes, but it's a struggle I get through every single day.

Thankfully, I have never dealt with self-harm. But if you have found yourself at an all-time low and you are not sure what you are supposed to do anymore, don't ever hesitate to ask for help. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-TALK.