Depression can be like an illness bt not everyone believes or agrees with that. It is not due to a person's character or part of who they are. You have to distinguish /seperate true self from the depression. You aren't defined by depression. You don't say I'm depression. You say I have /have had depression. I don't like hearing or using term. Your/im depressed, anxious as if its to do with the person, that's the way they are.I prefer to say I have depression or anxiety or depressive, anxious periods .