Dear Fellow Sufferer of Depression,

I know what it's like, to feel so numb to everything going on around you but when you're alone in bed everything hits you hard. I know. Feeling so tired and drained but not being able to fall asleep? I know. Getting so easily annoyed with every little thing that people do then feeling guilty for snapping at a person you love? I know. Being so sad you're afraid to tell someone because they'll see that you really aren't as happy as you seem and that might scare them? I know how you feel, I know how it is.

I know what you're going through and let me tell you, you're not alone. What you're experiencing right now is normal for everyone to go through at least once or twice in their life but when things start to stick around for awhile that's when something is wrong. Living life like you're slugging through it, dreading to wake up the next morning, wishing you weren't here anymore. That's not living and life doesn't have to be so miserable.

Everything around you is tied to one person, you. It may not seem like you have such an impact on the lives of others around you but you do. The majority of good things in people's lives wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for you. Remember when you helped that girl pick up papers that fell out of her notebook while rushing to class? You made her smile which was something she hadn't done all week due to the stress she was undergoing, you made her look forward to seeing you in the halls the next day at school. Remember when your friend Corey was too drunk to drive home and you got out of bed at 3 am to pick him up so he wouldn't drive? You probably saved him and anyone else on the roads that night. Remember when your family dog died and your sister couldn't sleep without him so you let her sleep in your bed with you for a week? You helped her grieve the loss of her best friend.

You are needed and wanted in this life. The friends around you wouldn't be who they are without you and your family would be very much so different if you just died or weren't here. Your cousin Marcus wouldn't have someone to save him from grandpa's long stories on Christmas. Aunt June wouldn't have someone to share her magic Christmas cookies she makes every year even though you two are the only ones who like them. Grandma Pam wouldn't have anyone to help her to her car after sitting for too long on Thanksgiving.

Things will get better for you. Climbing this mountain takes support and help from those around you. Depression is like the monster that was in your closet when you were 6 years old. How did you fight him? Say a few magic words? Ask for help. Resources are out there for this reason. Everyone needs help, we all just take different times to ask for it.

It took me four years to finally ask for help. Two years of not knowing what was happening and just thinking I was lazy and worthless, one year of me figuring out what was really wrong, another year of me fighting then one year of me finding the courage to ask for help. What happened to me was a close call. I had gotten to the point where I had a plan. I had a plan of how I was going to take my life. That scared me to my breaking point and I broke down one night to my mom after missing school for three days because I couldn't get out of bed without feeling so anxious I was going to throw up. I was 16 at the time. I'm turning 20 in a few months and am currently in my second year of college.

I saw my family doctor who told me of the steps to take. I started seeing a therapist who recommended me to psychiatrists to seek treatment. I got into a routine and over time I noticed I wasn't so sad and depressed anymore. I know that's the point in all this but I really saw the difference in my life within a year after all that. It's amazing honestly. I'm still in awe how I let myself get that low. I didn't know how great it is to get the treatment I needed.

Depression isn't just an invisible thing or an illusion like some people make mental illnesses out to be. It's just that; a mental illness. These things need to be treated but they're a tricky thing because these illnesses aren't always apparent. Most of the time we don't see what's going on in the bodies of others, especially when they're in our brains. We as human beings need to talk things out, it's who we are, it's human nature. So talk. We have friends for these reasons. Friends share moments, thoughts, feelings, everything with each other. You may be feeling the same as one of your other friends not knowing it or maybe they've gone through what you're going through and can help you out. You are not alone. You may feel you are but you are surrounded by so many people who love you and want what is best for you.

Stop hiding and hurting yourself. You can be happy and you deserve to be happy but you can't do that with this dark cloud following you. If you have serious signs of depression please, ask for help or look for the steps to take. Things don't have to be the way they are. All it takes is you. You have to be your hero. You have to be the knight in shining armor to your rescue.

Finding distractions are helpful too. I found that painting watercolors is soothing, focusing on the blending of colors. However, when distractions such as drinking or getting involved in drugs begin they tend to make matters worse. Find healthy stimulating distractions. Running every day is good too, it creates endorphins in your brain which causes happiness.

All in all things will get better for you on this climb. You can live your life to the fullest you just gotta help yourself. Life doesn't have to be so hard all the time, it's okay for you to be happy and work on yourself. It's important to look up and learn about what is going on with yourself. You'll see it's not so abnormal for you to be going through what you're going through. Statistics show that 1/3 of the population have a disorder of some type of mental illness whether it be from depression or anxiety or schizophrenia to bipolar disorder. You are not alone. Be brave and fight for yourself.

You are loved and you are needed. If things get worse for you please seek help, don't let this take over you. You may be one in a billion but you are also one in a billion. Be strong, I know you can do this. If I could do it then you can too. You aren't alone.

Sincerely, Fellow Survivor of Depression