Depression is a surprisingly common mental health issue characterized by overwhelming feelings of negativity and sadness. While sadness is a normal emotion to have, it is usually stimulated by specific events. It also tends to come and go rather than stick around until it becomes what can feel like a permanent state of being.

Common symptoms of depression include:

• Low energy or fatigue
• Sleep issues
• Feeling isolated or worthless
• Hopelessness
• Decreased motivation
• Changes in appetite
• Thoughts of suicide

Diagnosed depression occurs when the symptoms are persistent and branch out to multiple parts of a person’s daily functioning. For example, they may find it exhausting to carry out everyday tasks or struggle just to get out of bed in the morning. While a chemical imbalance in the brain can cause depression, there is often more to it, such as past trauma, feelings of guilt, or external environmental circumstances.