Here are some of the symptoms that people with depression may experience. Keep in mind that with depression, these will generally be present for two weeks or longer.

• Feelings of hopelessness and discouragement.
• Feeling “empty.”
• Feeling worthless or helpless.
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and activities that you used to enjoy.
• Aches and pains (depression can actually cause physical issues like headaches, digestive problems, loss of appetite, weight loss or gain, and muscle pain).
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night.
• Low energy and trouble concentrating.
• Self-harm (e.g., cutting, burning, pulling hair out) or thoughts of suicide. If you’re experiencing this, reach out to your school’s counseling center or peer resources (like an RA). If you can’t bring yourself to tell someone in person, text “CONNECT” to 741741 for help.

There’s no shame in depression. Celebrities like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Kristin Bell, Kid Cudi, and Michael Phelps have all opened up about their experiences with it in an effort to shed light on a topic many of us are afraid to talk about. Viral social media movements like #WhatYouDontSee have helped bring depression out of the dark even further, encouraging honesty and openness about experiences with depression.

“Depression is a brain disorder, not a weakness of character,” says Dr. Mayberg. “No one should be shy or embarrassed to ask for help.”

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is severe and disabling. MDD involves some combination of depression symptoms (everyone is different), but most people with MDD will lose interest in the activities they once enjoyed. This type of depression usually comes as an intense episode and lasts a few weeks or months at most. Once it’s over, you’ll generally feel like yourself again.

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymic disorder) is similar to MDD, but symptoms are less severe (so you may be able to function at school or in social situations). It lasts longer, though, and can affect people for years.

Depression can happen at any time, but college students are particularly likely to experience it, thanks to an onslaught of new stressors, including academic stress and personal changes, says Dr. Lauren Weitzman, director of the University of Utah Counseling Center.

Women are more likely than men to experience depression. There are a few theories as to why; studies show women experience more intense hormonal fluctuations, higher genetic likelihood, and higher stress levels than men do. Read more about the gender gap in depression here.

Underlying medical conditions (e.g., hyperthyroidism, mononucleosis) can cause exhaustion and symptoms that feel like depression. If you’re having symptoms, be sure to get a full medical evaluation to check for these conditions and to rule out any other illnesses.

Those with other disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, or eating disorders, are more likely to develop depression, as are those with chronic medical conditions (asthma, cancer, diabetes, etc.).

Treatment for depression often involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you deal with depression by examining your thought patterns and helping you come up with a new way of thinking, Dr. Weitzman says. In treatment for depression, your therapist may:

• Help you recognize negative thinking patterns and how to change them.
• Lead you to understand your emotions and what’s triggering them.
• Help you come up with solutions for problems that are weighing you down.
• Suggest changes to your lifestyle that could improve your mood (physical activity has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of depression).
• Help you feel more confident and hopeful by reassuring you that you can get better.
• Encourage you to keep a journal so you can keep track of your feelings and reactions.

In addition to making your friend feel heard, the best thing you can do is be present and nonjudgmental, says Dr. Gelenberg. Even when it’s hard to know what to say, you can help by:

1. Being present and spending time with them, whether that’s a quiet night in or a fun activity that could take their mind off the depression (if they’re up for it).
2. Accepting them and their depression. Recognize that they can’t just “cheer up” or “get over it.”
3. Encouraging physical activity, which has been shown in studies to help alleviate symptoms of depression. Take a run together after classes, join a yoga or dance class, or organize a basketball game.

It’s important to be careful in how you talk to your friend about depression. Try to avoid the types of statements below, even if they’re well-intentioned.

1. “You’re being really irrational/acting crazy.”

“We have such stigma around mental health and the word ‘crazy,’” Dr. Weitzman says. “Depression is an illness—it’s not being irrational or acting crazy.”

2. “Everyone gets depressed sometimes.”

While a lot of people do experience depression, brushing it off like this minimizes your friend’s experience.

3. “Just cheer up. Snap out of it. Forget about it.”

This suggests that you can make depression go away just by having a positive attitude, Dr. Weitzman says, but it’s not that easy. It’s like telling someone to just snap out of having the flu.

4. “You’ve got it way better than some people.”

Again, statements like this minimize what your friend is going through. For people dealing with depression, it’s a big deal.

5. “When are you going to act like your old self again?”

It’s OK to acknowledge that it’s hard to interact with someone who is depressed, Dr. Weitzman says, “but try to do that in a non-blaming, non-shaming, supportive way.” Instead, try something like, “Wow, I miss the person that you were a few weeks ago, but I want to make sure that you get help.”