Depression is pretty common amongst young people. Just because you have depression when you're young, it doesn't mean you're doomed to feel that way forever, though.

I struggled with depression when I was very young and off and on through my late teens and very early 20s, but it went away completely for nearly 12 years. I have only had 2 major depressive episodes in my 30s (I'm 37 now) and one was brought on by a medication and the other seems to have been triggered by the suicide of my uncle.

My main struggle in my early 30s was anxiety and agoraphobia, but my psychiatrist and ENT both believe it probably wouldn't have happened (or been so severe) if I hadn't gotten a severe case of BPPV (an inner ear disorder). The fact that I was depressed as a teen doesn't seem to be the reason I got agoraphobia when I was in my early 30s.

So, I lead a pretty normal life -- and did so throughout my 20s too. I have two university degrees, have had some wonderful boyfriends, have great friends and a fun social life, have a good career, etc. Depression isn't a life sentence. You may need therapy and medication, but those things can help a lot.

Sometimes depressive symptoms subside when hormone shifts calm down. That seems to be what happened to me... and why I felt so much better when I reached 21. It's a good idea to seek therapy when you're young. You can learn some positive coping mechanisms that can make things easier. Depression does not have to rule your life.