I’ve been seeing the articles circulating on Facebook about how people with high-functioning depression live differently than what people think depression looks like. People with high-functioning depression are seen around and no one knows that they are struggling internally. They fight constantly to get out of bed, go to class and make plans with friends. It’s hard to get going, and only few people know this about them because they have learned how to hide it and continue living normally with either medication and/or counseling.

The thing about this is that people with depression aren’t always in a box like this.

Last year when I was diagnosed with major depression disorder, I was not high functioning. I was eating a lot, sleeping little and having many suicidal thoughts. Life was not normal. Now that I have my meds under control and know most of my symptoms and triggers, I would consider myself high functioning.

This is not all the time, though. Although I consider myself having high-functioning depression, I can’t always get out of bed. I can’t always go to class, eat normal meals or even wake up before noon. I’m not being lazy, and I’m no longer suicidal, but I can’t do life. I’ve had days and weeks where things get bad and life is hard.

This isn’t to sound whiney or to make my life seem harder than everyone else’s because there are over 3 million new cases of major depression across the US every year. It’s a problem that a lot of people are now struggling with, and each case and treatment looks different for each different person that is struggling.

So while most people struggling with this disease have it under control with meds and counseling, under control is all that it is. Meds do not cure you. Counseling does not cure you. Most people on antidepressants take them for a lot of their lives, the disease lies with them for years. It’s a daily struggle with some days being better than others.

Having friends and family that are with you through it make the difference. They can be with you when things start getting bad, listen to you and push you to look toward better things.

Living with depression is hard, but we’re not alone.

Even if you feel alone, seek help by visiting http://www.crisistextline.org/textline/?gclid=CNDYzNT0ndICFVpLDQodks4Kvg or texting “CONNECT” TO 741741.