Depression

There's No Way I'm Depressed

Hala Alnajjar

Club Member · 5 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Key takeaways: Depression is more than sadness — it affects your mood, energy, and daily life. And it is a mental health disorder, not laziness or a personal failure.

It starts with a slow buildup

You might expect it to begin with something major. A trauma, a loss, a failure. Something life-altering. Maybe that's the case for some people. But for the majority? It's more of a slow buildup. Something quietly brewing in the background.

The first thing you feel is fatigue. You stop doing the things you love — going out with friends, making art, baking. You're just so tired. All the time. But that's normal, right? You have a busy life.

You start isolating yourself from your loved ones. It's not a conscious decision. "Let's go out to celebrate!" your friends say. You bail. It's just — you don't feel like being around people.

Then the physical symptoms kick in. You can't get yourself out of bed to eat. You're not hungry anyway. You spend all your time in bed, but you barely sleep at night.

You stop doing the basic things. Showering, brushing your teeth, daily grooming feel like a hassle. You start resenting yourself. Why am I so lazy? I don't do a single thing in my day. I'm worthless.

Then anger. Anger at yourself. At your family. At your friends. And then — anger at your own existence.

Then quiet. A new thought. A wrong one. You know it's wrong — that's what you've been taught your whole life. But it seems like the only reprieve. The only escape from your misery.

Sound familiar? Maybe some of it, maybe all of it. What you just read is neither laziness nor the common blues. It's someone living with a form of depression.

What is depression?

It's not sadness. It's a low mood that doesn't go away. You stop enjoying the things you once loved. Simple everyday tasks start to feel difficult. Symptoms include: low mood, losing interest in things you usually enjoy, guilt, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, lack of energy, and in some cases suicidal thoughts.

Why is depression commonly missed?

Despite being a common mental health disorder, it often gets overlooked — usually by the person themselves. "Me, depressed? No way! I'm the life of the party!" Just because someone is outgoing doesn't mean they can't get depressed. Depression doesn't care how social you are.

When should I seek help?

If these feelings have lasted for weeks or longer and are interfering with your daily life — studying, eating, sleeping, and basic hygiene become difficult — please reach out for help. You don't have to wait until things get worse.

You are not alone

If you read the story above and felt like it spoke to you, know that you are not alone in this struggle. Any health condition that affects your daily life deserves to be acknowledged — and treated.