I think I might be depressed. I guess my question is how do you know if you’re depressed? Is there anything that you can do about it?
Sara, everyone goes through tough times at different points in their lives, and we all feel sad every now and then. But feeling sad temporarily is very different from being depressed-or having depression. Depression is more extreme and longer-lasting than normal sadness. Depression interferes with other aspects of your life, like school, friendships, or relationships.
From my perspective, Sara, if you are crying almost every day, you should talk with a counselor at your school or go see a psychologist. I say this because crying every day sounds pretty extreme to me, and you deserve to feel good. If you do have depression, the good news is that many people who have it can lead happy lives. I know from my own and other peoples’ experiences. But the first step is to reach out to people who can help. It might be a little scary, but trust me, you will learn just how common depression is and hopefully, you will be feeling better soon.
Lots of love,
Auntie Manda
