I’m in group therapy at the moment. And I’m looking around at the group of people I have come to know and they all have one thing in common. They are all about middle aged, and they all, every one of them, has the reason behind why they are depressed.

I feel very out of place. I feel out of place not only because I am about 15 years younger than the person closest to me in age, but also because my sadness doesn’t have a source.

When a girl in 3rd grade constantly wishes she was part of the neighbors family, that is not normal. When a 6th grade girl writes a poem about death, that is not normal. When a 10th grade girl quits her favorite sport team because she cannot stand being around other people, that is not normal. When a girl who is a freshman in college tries to commit suicide, that is not normal. And when all of this sadness in my life has no cause, that is not normal.

I am here to tell all of you that depression doesn’t always have a source. It isn’t always because someone comes from a broken or abusive family, it isn’t always stress induced or whatever the reason may be. Sometimes it’s just random sadness.

And I want to tell you that if you identify with this at all, you are not alone.