What is Depression?

Written by Stella W.

Not too long ago, you loved hanging out with friends, playing your favorite games, or working on your art. Now? Everything feels flat. You can’t remember the last time you actually enjoyed something. Getting out of bed feels impossible. School feels pointless. Your friends text you, but you can’t bring yourself to respond. You’re exhausted all the time, even though you’re sleeping way more than usual (or maybe you can’t sleep at all.) People tell you to “cheer up” or “just think positive,” but it's not that simple. You're not just sad.  Something deeper is going on. That might be depression.

Depression is not just sadness or feeling down or having a bad week. It's a real medical condition that affects your mood, your thoughts and your day-to-day life. 

Depression is a persistent low mood that makes it hard to feel joy, energy, or motivation, even when nothing “bad” is happening.

What is Going On Here?

Let's break down the vocab real quick:

💜 Depression: A mental health condition that causes long-lasting sadness, emptiness, or numbness. It’s not a bad day or a moody week. It’s a pattern that sticks around for weeks or months and affects your ability to think, feel, sleep, and function.

💜 Sadness vs. Depression:

✔️Sadness is an emotion that comes and goes, usually because of something specific (a fight, a loss, a bad grade). 

✔️Depression doesn’t always have a clear cause. It lingers, drains energy, and makes life feel flat or meaningless. You can’t just “snap out of it.”

💜 Depression vs. Anxiety: People can have both at the same time, but they show up differently. With anxiety, you might avoid a party because you're worried about being judged; with depression, you might not go because you can’t find the energy or see the point.

✔️ Anxiety is about fear and worry where your thoughts are racing and your body is on high alert.

✔️ Depression feels heavy, like you’re empty, slowed down, unmotivated, or disconnected.

💜 Loss of Interest (Anhedonia): A common symptom of depression where things you used to love suddenly don’t feel enjoyable anymore.

💜 Clinical Depression (Major Depressive Disorder): This is the medical term for depression. It's diagnosed by a professional when you experience specific symptoms, like persistent sadness, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, or thoughts of death, for a certain amount of time. Depression is a medical condition involving changes in brain chemistry, hormones, and how your brain processes emotions and stress.

Why Does This Happen?

Depression shows up differently for everyone, but common signs include:

✔️ persistent sadness, emptiness, or numbness that doesn't go away
✔️ loss of interest or pleasure in activities, hobbies, or people you used to care about
✔️ constant fatigue or low energy, even when you're not doing anything
✔️ sleeping way more than usual or struggling with insomnia
✔️ changes in appetite or weight - eating much more or much less than normal
✔️ difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things
✔️ feeling worthless, guilty, or like a burden to others
✔️ withdrawing from friends and family, isolating yourself
✔️ irritability or anger over small things
✔️ physical symptoms like headaches, stomach problems, or unexplained aches
✔️ moving or talking more slowly than usual
✔️ thoughts of death or suicide - if you're experiencing this, please tell someone immediately

What Causes Depression?

There isn’t one single cause. It can come from:

✔️  overwhelming stress
✔️  major life changes
✔️  genetics or family history
✔️  brain chemistry or hormone changes
✔️  trauma or bullying
✔️  long-term pressure
✔️  chronic loneliness

Sometimes, there is no clear cause at all.  Logically, you might not be able to find that “reason” you are depressed.  It's not about whether your life looks good on paper. Depression doesn't care about that.

How Depression Affects Your Life

At school: Concentrating becomes nearly impossible. Grades might drop, not because you're lazy or don't care, but because your brain is working against you. Assignments feel overwhelming. Showing up feels exhausting.

In friendships: You might pull away from people you care about, stop responding to texts, or decline invitations. Friends might think you're mad at them or don't care, but really, you're just trying to survive.

With self-esteem: Depression destroys how you see yourself. It tells you you're worthless, that everything is your fault, that you’ll never be good enough. These thoughts feel real and overwhelming, even when they're lies.

Physically: Beyond the fatigue and sleep changes, depression can cause real physical pain such as headaches, body aches, and digestive issues. Your body and mind are connected, and when one struggles, the other does too.

Emotionally: You might feel numb, like nothing matters. Or you might feel intensely sad, hopeless, or like you're drowning. Sometimes it alternates.

Myth Buster

✖️ Myth: Depression is just sadness.
✔️ Fact:  Depression is a medical condition that affects mood, thoughts, energy, and behavior. Even brain chemistry.  It’s more than feeling sad.

How to Cope and Get Help

Here’s what actually helps:

✔️ Talk to someone you trust. A parent, friend, coach, teacher, or counselor.
✔️ Reach out to a mental health professional. Therapy, counseling, or sometimes medication can help rebalance your mood.
✔️ Create routines. Consistent sleep, meals, and movement can stabilize your mood.
✔️ Limit isolation. Even small social interactions can help your brain reconnect.
✔️ Move your body. Gentle exercise improves mood over time.
✔️ Be patient with yourself. Recovery isn't instant. Some days will be harder than others. Progress isn't linear. That's okay. What matters is that you keep trying and keep reaching out.

If you're thinking about harming yourself, tell someone immediately. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988), go to an emergency room, or tell an adult right now. You are not alone, and there is help available. Your life matters.

The Bottom Line

Depression is more than sadness.  It’s a real condition that affects the way you think, feel, and function. It’s not something you cause, and it’s not something you’re expected to fix alone. With support, understanding, and the right tools, you can feel better.  And you deserve to.