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Hi,
Living with depression can be really hard. And if you have felt depressed for a long time it can be hard to feel like it will get better. Even if we can find a reason why we feel like this, it doesnt make finding a solution easier.
It can be easy to blame ourselves for not feeling better, or that weve failed. But youre not alone, and there are people out there to help. Perhaps there might be an adult you trust you could speak to at school or at home. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not a sign or weakness.
Helping other people is a great thing to do. And it can be a way to focus your energy on something you feel is positive. But its important that you feel emotionally ready to do this, and that you dont ignore your own need for help.
Lots of people feel sad or depressed sometimes. And they can feel very alone when theyre having low moods and sad thoughts. One place where people can share these feeling safely and anonymously is the Childline message boards. It can be interesting to read other people's experiences and see that youre not alone. It might also help you see that its possible to improve how we feel.
Remember that you can always speak to a counsellor. They can help you talk about the feelings that are hard to deal with and look at ways to not just cope with them but also to change them.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
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