If you have ever suffered from depression, you will know it's not just a case of "pulling yourself together" or "cheering up".
The smallest tasks are an effort. The idea of talking to anyone or doing anything weighs so heavily on your mind. You know you should shake this off and get on with your life, but it all becomes too much effort.
If you are lucky, you have someone in your life who knows what you are going through, someone who understands. But more often than not, depression is something we face alone. And it becomes all the more powerful over us because of that.
I speak from personal experience.
I have suffered from depression for over half my life. I know what it is like when you spend your whole day wishing you could pull the covers over your head and hide from the world.
I know how frustrating it is to be told "it's ok" when it really isn't. To be told "it could be worse" when yes, it could, but that's irrelevant. And to be told "cheer up" when trust me, if only I could I would love to.
Depression affects millions of us. We are not alone x