Let's talk about the "D"

Hey Hannah here,
Yes, it's time. "Time for what?" you ask. It's time to talk about something we've all been hiding from, that we have repeatedly ignored time and time again, something I think we are scared of. That's right lets talk about the "D".
I can practically see you confused, probably thinking "what in cheesecakes is the "D?" or you're like me, you get so sucked into what you're reading that you don't even bother to think you just keep going, your mind avidly exploring the pages as if it were a new universe. The "D" my dear readers, is Depression. We generally tend to avoid this during discussion and it's starting to make me worry that we are scared of it.
You are  probably wondering why, what makes it worrying that we are scared of the "D". The thing is  yes, its not a very comfortable topic but it is necessary that we open our eyes and realise that it is a major issue in todays society and  no matter how much we want to ignore and wish it away, it simply isn't going to happen. So what do  we do? We stand up and face it because it is eating at our lives, destroying our futures and we need to stop it.
Depression sincerely is not something that we can simply change. You can't tell someone who is depressed to "stop being sad". That's not how it works. It's like telling a wound to stop bleeding. It can't. Before we can even think of trying to help a depressed person we need to firstly learn about what depression is.
It is a mental health illness and like many others there are many types. There is manic depression, chronic depression, Seasonal depression and lots of other types but there is one major symptom, a depressed or sad feeling and constant feelings of worthlessness. Sometimes it's not even a feeling of sadness or worthlessness, sometimes, it's an emptiness. Everyone experiences i differently.
 From what I know a major reason is guilt.Some depressed people feel guilt/regret. These guilty/regretful feelings lead to feelings of worthlessness leading to "what ifs". What if I wasn't there that day? Or if I had taken the bus instead of the train, maybe I'd have gotten home in time to save him. Then eventually comes the worst what if? They may start toying with the idea of death. "What if I had died instead of him? At least I wouldn't have to deal with the pain of his death."  NOTE: it doesn't always go like this, it depends on the type of depression and the circumstances surrounding it. There are even cases when it's simply caused by intense worrying and may lead to anxiety disorder.

 One major thing to note is that though they may not admit it, they need help and they know they do. They say leave me, but they really mean "I'm scared to be alone". Or  I'm fine but it really means "I'm not okay". What they need most is a friend, a mother, a brother, a lover. Someone, anyone  that will listen and understand them. That's what they really need.
 Don't separate or outcast them and an absolute don't is to say "it's just a phase, you'll get over it". It's not a "phase", people. Depression is a full blown mental illness and NOT some teenage mood swing. People need to realise it and give it the attention it needs. Some people live in fear and even try to deny their depressive state because they are scared of stigmatization. They refuse to get help for fear of what people will say or think. These are the people that don't get help and may in the end even commit suicide. This is what stigma does to people, it destroys lives.
If you know someone who is depressed let them know that you are here, that you care and that they are not alone. If you are battling with depression, note, you are brave, broken, beautiful and victorious.
I will soon post a kind of letter thing (for better understanding look at post "a teenage boys guide to growing up") to parents or friends (just someone, I'm not too sure yet but I should have it up tomorrow or just very soon) on depression. You can look at my other posts like "Death and the afterlife", "Body positivity and beauty" and "The secret of influential people" Don't forget to comment and follow. Come back soon. Thanks.
I'm Hannah Kay and I'm just a teenager sharing her view on the world.