Clinical depression is categorized in a number of ways and the ways it effects you may be different from the ways it effects others. There may be no preceding event and no “good reason” for feeling so sad, but you may feel the weight of sadness just the same. It can come on in waves, or suddenly, or gradually – and all of that is perfectly normal.

Our bodies are a delicate balance of chemicals and our brains are connected to our bodies in all of these same ways, so becoming out of balance is not as difficult as we might like to think it is.

I’ve been going through what I’m calling “a funk” for a few weeks. It doesn’t effect my life in any way that others can see. In fact, when I’ve shared this with close friends, even those who see me weekly and talk to me more often, they were surprised to hear it, though I never lied or covered up my feelings. They’re just not aware that I was sleeping so much, or feeling unexcited even though I have exciting things coming up in my life.

I’m normally very private, but I feel this needs to be said, so I’m sharing. Please reach out and share if you’re going through things.

Things that made me cry recently:

• I watched a video of a couple of vloggers I follow on YouTube, Simon & Martina. They had moved from South Korea to Japan and their cat and dog were in quarantine with friends for a few months due to Japan’s strict laws. They were picking up their pets and were so excited and emotional. And then, again, when Simon got licked by bunnies.
• I was watching House of Cards with my husband and (no spoilers) I mentioned that a certain character would not like what was happening, when my husband reminded me that that character was dead.
• My cat was having a nap with me and as he got up to leave, he refused to press his forehead against mine when I asked him to “give love.”
• I was watching a TED Talk by a woman who overcame childhood sexual trauma and is now an advocate for children.
• Anticipated calling dormant clients to offer new groups and the fact that they may not be interested.
• Learning that Prince died and conspiracy-theory suspecting that George R.R. Martin must have a hand in scripting 2016.
• Preparing items for posting on social media, looked at photos of recently adopted children holding signs about how long they’d been in foster care reminded me of all the kids still in foster care.
• That gum commercial with the proposal and the one with the cranes.
• Also, the photo in this blog.

So what am I doing about it? I’ll talk about that in next week’s blog.

For now, if you are experiencing depression – or any mental health issues – be honest with people around you and say something. Your story may just help someone else, and yourself.

Autumn Hahn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist practicing at Clear Mind Group in Weston, Florida. Call 954-612-9553 for a consultation. Follow Autumn on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Sign up for the e-newsletter HERE.