In an emotional plea to Facebook, a teenager has begged the public to listen and take people with depression seriously.
Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, yet many people cannot comprehend or grasp the problem.
Katelyn Todd, knows this all too well, as she describes her events on one particular day when she brushed her hair.
Brushing your hair is a meaningless, monotonous task, one we often take for granted; but when living with depression, it could mean the world.
"I brushed my hair today. For the first time in four weeks. It was matted and twisted together. It snapped and tore with every stroke."
"I cried while I washed and conditioned it, because I forgot how it felt to run my fingers through it."
There are several ways depression can absorb people, and a common side effect is a lack of hygiene, because as the 17-year-old states: "I'm too tired and sad."
But describing the mental illness, Katelyn makes sure people are aware that it is not 'beautiful': "Depression is bad hygiene, dirty dishes, and a sore body from sleeping too much."
"Depression is having three friends that are only still around because they have the patience and love of a saint. Depression is crying until there's no more tears, just dry heaving and sobbing until you're gasping for your next breath."
"Depression is staring at the ceiling until your eyes burn because you forget to blink. Depression is making your family cry because they think you don't love them anymore when you're distant and distracted."
Perfectly describing how difficult life can be for people who suffer with depression, it opens eyes to a world that some are quite unfamiliar with; but Katelyn has a small request from people who don't understand:
"Please be easy on your friends and family that have trouble getting up the energy to clean, hang out, or take care of themselves."
"And please, please take them seriously if they talk to you about it. We're trying. I swear we're trying. See? I brushed my hair today."
Each victory is just that no matter how big or small, and sometimes it's the tiniest ones that make all the difference.
