Our addictions seem endless: drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, sugar, processed food, video games, social media, iPhones, working… and it’s seriously hurting us. It’s most significantly impacting our youngest generation raised on technology, chemicals, and instant gratification.

During the winter, as colder temperatures and icy streets usher me more indoors I find myself having to be much more creative to entertain and satisfy myself

And this week? Do you feel it? Do you feel the “too much” feeling? Is it overflowing in your cup? Are you gasping for air as your head dips below the water too often? I understand if even me talking about this feels too vulnerable, uncomfortable, like a train wreck.

What does that mean?

It means a lot of businesses that do not usually talk about mental health will talk about it today. Same goes for influencers, celebrities and maybe some of your friends.

Mood disorders are characterized by a chronic change in mood that disrupts our day-to day functioning.

Right now, there is a lot of negativity. We know that. There are conflicts and headlines that can ignite even the most zen person’s anger. Even as someone who tries to be positive, I too have felt depressed.

I want to normalize something. I want to normalize depression.

So often we feel like we’re supposed to be happy all the time. We feel ashamed when we are not smiling, joyful and energetic. It’s this shame that usually leads us to instead of asking for help, push down feelings, muscle through and silently suffer.

I have worked with hundreds of teens, women and men who are experiencing depression but have trouble naming it because depression feels so stigmatizing. And once I help them finally name it, they feel so much more relief.

Grief is funny in that way. Sometimes it comes in small waves, but other moments roll in like a tsunami.

Depression. People do NOT like talking about it. Anxiety and stress are way more comfortable to own up to. Why? Well, there is more of a stigma around having depression and less of a collective understanding of what it is.

As I’ve recently mentioned, it can be tough to get a grip on life. And taking care of our mental health can be a challenge in and of itself. When I’m going through low periods, I don’t feel motivated to do my meditation practice. I know it would help me but I can’t get myself to do it. I feel too tired, too checked out.

Depression has many possible causes, such as genetics, brain chemicals and your life situation. Chronic stressful life situations can increase the risk of developing depression if you aren't coping with the stress well.

It's often said that depression results from a chemical imbalance, but that figure of speech doesn't capture how complex the disease is.