Sometimes it can take all day for me to get up the strength to get out of bed and get dressed. I can have a shower and by the time I'm done I have to sit down and rest because it was so draining. So I think it's definitely a show of strength to stand up to the depression and do these things despite the lack of energy or motivation to do it. Personally, there are a lot of days where I have to bribe myself to do anything. I keep a lot of my favourite foods on hand -- "if you get out of bed you can go to the kitchen and get some popcorn!" -- or "if you go to class now you'll have time to stop on the way for a coffee to bring in with you, which will really help you get through it!" The little things are the biggest comfort sometimes.

I think depressives tend to lose a lot of their "oomph", which other people probably take for granted. Facing the world without whatever it is that keeps everyone else going is incredibly difficult and I think we all deserve a reward for doing it.