Depression. We've all heard the term before, and we have such a strong campaign to fight the stigma of mental illness. The statistic of 1 in 3 is all too familiar--but what does it look like in a college setting? It speaks through everyday routine. Waking up and going to class might sound like, "You want to get out of bed for a class? Stay here, no one will notice if you're gone one day." Taking a shower sounds like, "Good luck standing up long enough to clean yourself off. You know you like watching 'Orange is the New Black' more anyway." It's a thick coat of concrete that weighs you down, and you don't know how to deal with it.

I have suffered with depression for a long time, only getting up the guts to talk about it my senior year of high school. Until then, I thought it was normal to feel like getting out of bed was a workout in and of itself. I thought that everyone had those random, dark thoughts, and coped with it by obsessing over music groups. But frankly, it isn't normal at all. I began going to my psychologist in February or March of 2015, and that was the best decision of my life. I was put on medication, and became more balanced as I learned how to tackle my issues.

Depression on its own is a horrible obstacle--coupled with anxiety, it's a whole different beast. One says you should stay in bed instead of clean your room because you shouldn't care. The other causes burning worry and torment based on the fact that the room isn't spotless, so therefore, you are a failure at life and you will spiral down until it is clean. Sound dramatic? Definitely, but that's a sum up of what I was thinking before moving out.

Cleaning house isn't the only thing that's difficult. Homework becomes more than a chore, and being social can turn into an obligation rather than an enjoyable event. Any act of normalcy can become a drag, and you feel like your bed and blankets are always begging you to come back into their warm, cuddly embrace.

So how do you cope? Well, every person has their strategies. But if you didn't have any experience with this condition beforehand, or you had family that would step in and remind you to take care of your various responsibilities, you might spin a little. There are two big things that will help propel you forward.

First off, no matter the day, you need to make sure you're getting your work done. Don't let your GPA drop with your mood--keep getting those little things done. A worksheet here, a paper there. You can do this.

Secondly, surround yourself with positive people. All of this sounds very cliched, but it will help you get through. We as humans feed off each others' emotional states, and when we are alone, we don't get the change of pace that is necessary to change our mood. Being alone is just about the worst thing you could do if you're suffering with depression. Go to a floor dinner, talk to your RA, make sure you keep yourself with happy people.

Remember--you will be okay. Other people have the same issue, and you can get through the semester. Classes and clubs may be difficult to remember, and finding the motivation to shower and eat every day can be even harder. If you begin to think of harming yourself or dying, please seek out your school's counseling center and student health services area. Tell someone you trust--I would suggest talking to your roommate or RA. They're the most likely to help you if you put yourself in danger. If you feel like you can't talk to either of them, call a crisis line.

Male, female, or nonconforming, depression happens. It's how we deal with it that makes a lifelong difference.