I go through periods where I feel the exact same way. That doubt that what I'm going through isn't real and is nothing more than an invention of my mind. I think it's fairly normal to experience some doubt. I'm not sure why. If I had to guess I would think many of us don't want to believe it is real.

The fact is, depression and anxiety are both very real. It has nothing to do with being selfish, or being unable to suck it up. To someone who has never experienced depression, they simply cannot understand what we are going through. They may see us as selfish as such because they have never been depressed or anxious. Throughout my life, I have found that the best way to experience empathy toward another person's situation is to have gone through it yourself.

Your feelings are real. If you can feel it, it does exist. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.