Am I depressed? I'm Depressed. You've probably heard that expression' I am depressed!' a hundred times or more. Maybe you've even said it yourself. It's an expression that gets used for everything from chipping a nail, bad grades, relationships and even the death of a family member. But, really... what is depression? Sometimes it's hard to know the difference between feeling said and feeling stuck in a deep hole. If you're experiencing the symptoms of depression, it's important to know how to talk about it accurately, how to identify it and what to do with it. What It's NOT? Let's start with the basics... like that depression isn't. Depression is not just feeling sad, having the blues or being angry. Feeling down every now and then--and even being sad--are normal emotions that everyone has. Even though it might not seem very good, it's actually healthy to feel and express sadness and anger. When we don't get what we want, when our heart is broken, or especially when someone we love goes away, we naturally feel sad. Sadness can even turn into anger. If you've learned to express your anger and sadness in healthy ways, these emotions will continue to be an important, healthy part of your life. It's when you pretend you aren't sad, or when you ignore your anger, that other problems can occur. Depression is not just being in a bad mood or feeling frustrated. All of us experience things every day that can tick us off(责备，斥责)or make us edgy(易怒的). Others around us know we're having a bad day, but they also see us bounce back in 24 hours. If you can bounce back emotionally, it shows that you've learned important skills to help you work through difficult situations. You know how to express emotions effectively. But if the bad mood stays for a long period of time, you may have a more serious problem. Depression is not just being stressed out (因心理压力过重而筋疲力尽的).Speaking in front of a class, taking exams, moving to a different city or even dealing with a death can be tough, but somehow, it's possible to find a way to get through these events without experiencing depression. It's when the stress never seems to go away that you need to look deeper at what's going on with you. Dealing with It So how do you handle the tough stuff? Here are some healthy suggestions: 1. Get social. Find a small group to be a part of. This could include a therapy group on stress management, children of divorce, clubs at school, assertiveness training, etc. 2. Get Going. Find new ways to deal with your situation. For instance, instead of withdrawing when you're lonely, tell someone. Reach out. Make a new friend. When you're angry, put your thoughts in a journal instead of cutting or lashing out (猛烈抨击) at someone. Think before you respond. But don't stuff your emotions--cry, talk, sing, run. 3. Get Physical. Exercise, proper diet, drinking lots of water and taking better care of your body can make a bid difference. 4. Get direction. Set some new goals for yourself. But ... If your sadness doesn't go away If you stuff your anger inside If your mood is always downcast If you've had a stressful event in your life If someone in your family has suffered from depression If you are stressed-out and anxious most of the time... then you may be experiencing true depression. Let's Define It So what is depression? Depression is often more about anger turned inward than it is about sadness. But it's usually expressed as sadness. Depression can happen at all ages, from childhood to old age, and it's the United States' No. 1 health problem. When someone is depressed, her behavio