Depression had definitely affected the way I look, yes. I used to 'glow' as you said, plus I took better care of myself before I got depressed (as depression has drained a lot of my motivation and energy to do so now).

The left is a school picture from 6th grade, right before I started getting depression symptoms. The right is a very recent webcam picture of me now (18 years old). A lot of the difference in my looks has been getting older and adolescence, but you can still tell in the right picture that I am not happy. (Also my style of dress has changed a lot, and I no longer wear makeup.)

Between these two pictures (2008 - 2015) I've gone through getting depression, lots and lots of drunken fights between my parents, cutting myself, being bullied, suicidal feelings, a one-week stay at an adolescent psych unit, three deaths in the family, dropping out of high school, and most recently my dad cheating on my mom which has really ****ed everything up and severed a lot of ties I had with people who I used to be close to but now don't talk to anymore.

I see no reason to smile now, obviously. :P



I feel like, when I'm your age, I'll be the wrinkly decrepit-looking person you describe.