I wrote this story when I was 16 or so, due to my struggles with depression. (Seen in this story as the swirling void of emptiness)

The Author created a universe filled with vibrant, wonderful people, because he lived inside of a rather dark and lonely world which didn't really contain any people. The details of why aren't really important to this story.

Depression is a very serious thing, and it can drain you of your hopes and dreams, good feelings and bad, and convince you that you are worthless, and convince you that isolation is safer and more comfortable than engaging with the world. In its final stages, you stop caring about everyone and everything, first of all yourself, but finally your loved ones.

It's important to know that depression is a chemical imbalance, and it creates an illusory effect, much like a drug, which forces you to see the world in a way that is not accurate. I would liken it to an Anorexic who simply cannot see themselves as anything but fat, even though they are wasting away. The illusion is more powerful and more convincing than reality. Depression tells you that you are worthless, ugly, and of no value to anyone or anything. It convinces you that there's nothing worth doing, and no one worth having in your life. Even the people that you love and care about, you stop talking to, or keep things from. It isolates you, and once it has you, it drains you of all your desires, ambitions, and reasons for living.

It can affect even someone who is outgoing, happy, and upbeat. That is who they really are, but, Depression creates an illusion inside their minds. It's not real, but it becomes real, and they hide this hollow, emptiness inside, because nothing anyone says to them can make the wound inside go away. You can't just snap out of it, you can't chase it away with saccharine and upbeat slogans and affirmations or mantras. It is stronger than logic or reason, and it makes an image in your mind which is more potent than anything your eyes and ears can sense.

It becomes your entire world.

It consumes your entire world.

It eats away at you on the inside until you are dead.

It truly is a deadly, devastating, life-crushing illness.

It is not to be underestimated or taken lightly.

If you or anyone else has depression, first and foremost remember: It's not a bad mood. It's not the same as sadness. Sadness has a purpose.

It isn't something you can logic away or wish away or just "snap out of". None of that is true.

You must always understand that it is a real chemical imbalance in your brain, and your brain understands the world through a pattern of chemicals.

Therefore, in your mind, your "Depressed World" is ABSOLUTELY REAL, to you. And it isn't something you can just imagine away.

You should seek support. You cannot fight this monster alone. A lot of people will not understand your illness, because they've never, ever experienced its horrors, and do not understand the illusion in your mind is so real to you that it can literally kill you.

You need help, if you have depression.

Not even the brightest, most cheerful spirit inside of you can possibly turn aside the dark clouds. It will eventually consume all of that. Some of the most amazing outgoing respected legendary comedians suffer from depression. Wealthy and successful actors suffer from depression. Beautiful people suffer from it. Whatever your reality is, it does not matter, depression takes away all of your self esteem and good feelings and replaces it with a silent storm that eats you away until your smiling face is simply a hollow mask, and there's nothing else inside.

Remember it is still an illusion and you can fight your way out of it and you can think your way out of it, but it won't stop feeling real until the wound inside of you starts to heal. You probably will need outside help to heal such a wound. Do not face this demon alone.

Seek out others who have faced depression and conquered it, seek help from a professional, and make sure every single one of your closest friends and family members understands that you have this wound. It is a mortal wound unless it is healed. At the very least, make sure it doesn't get any worse.

Thank you for hearing my story.

It can get better... I promise.