An estimated 121 million people around the world suffer from some form of depression, myself included.

From the outside looking in people wonder why people with depression act the way they do... Why they can't snap out of it, why they can't get out of bed, why they distance themselves further and further from their loved ones.

Depression isn't a simple, "I don't feel like it" or "I'm just having a bad day". It isn't just being sad, angry, or lazy... there's a lot more to it than that.

Being upset is completely normal, but when the feeling doesn't go away and things that once made you feel happy and accomplished don't satisfy you anymore, there might be something wrong.

Depression is never anyone's fault. Someone cannot make you depressed and it's not your own fault if you are depressed. The chemicals in your brain are not at the right level particularly serotonin (joy). Your lacking in it. That's why Anti-depressants like Prozac and Zoloft are prescribed to increase these levels.

Depression can come on gradually or it can be triggered by a traumatic life event. It can range from minor to major. If someone suffers from any form of depression, anything in their life could set them off into a major depressive episode.

Battling depression is a daily struggle; the only way to make progress is to take it one day at a time. You cannot change the past and you cannot control the future, but you can live in the present moment and learn to take care of yourself and cope with what is going on around you at that moment in life. You have to take depression and any mental illness one step at a time, because your biggest enemy is yourself.

You will not want to ask anyone for help, but there will be a day you realize you need to. It's a constant battle: do I need more help, am I ok, no I'm fine, am I though?

If you are struggling at all, ask for help, life is a lot better when you are enjoying it, and when you are living it.

I have already hurt a lot of people and lost a lot in my life because of depression. I have seen too many family members and friends lose their battles with mental illness.

There was one day I was lying in my bed googling, "ways to kill myself" (if you know me you might be shocked or maybe you might not be, that's just another thing about depression—it's really easy to try to hide) but today I am on track to becoming a psychologist to help people get through similar experiences that I went through. Learning to manage depression has made me want to help other people because there are moments I have went through that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I'm not saying that I will never be in that place again because I very well know what to expect, but what I am saying is that living the life you want with depression is possible if you learn to take care of yourself and ask for help when you need it.

For everyone who struggles with a mental illness: your not alone, take it one step at a time, and eventually your good days will be almost all of them

For everyone who has never struggled with a mental illness: I hope you have a little more insight to other people's minds and thank you for reading

For everyone: appreciate the little things and love yourself