I'm sorry to hear that your friends aren't being supportive, I have had a similar experience with friends who have said the exact same thing to me, "cheer up, its not that bad." Don't listen to them. People who invalidate you are not worth your time.
Have you thought about using a light box? I use mine every day and it helps me a lot when it gets darker and darker outside.. If you can find anyone to talk to (therapist, guidance counselor, social worker) I think they could give you some support and help you find the help you need.
Good luck :) and if you need anyone to talk to, feel free to message me

Sorry you didn't get many replies to your post. Alot of members left when DS switched over to the new website the one you see now. They perfered the old site which was around for years. I did too actually. So some of the groups are very slow now. The most popular support groups in my opinion are the Depression, the Anxiety and the PTSD groups. so maybe you should try posting on all 3.I don't know but maybe. Really all the groups are much slower then they were before. I don't have SAD but I know a little bit about it. They say light therapy is very useful to get through the winter months. But that means going out and buying special lamps that are used to treat SAD. Really you should see a psychiatrist I see you have insurance which is great. I don't know what the hold up is with your mom but I do know alot of family members and friends don't understand mental illness and it is very common for people just to tell "you to snap out of it" That's not the way it works though they just don't get it unless they themselves suffer from mental illness. I would definitely try to convince your mom again to take you to a doctor. Maybe you could print out some information about SAD and ask her to read it. Or maybe you could talk to a teacher or guidance counsellor at school and ask them to have a conference with your mom. SAD can be very serious. It is not something to play around with. It is like having a very bad depression but usually only during the winter months more or less. Anyway you really need a doctor to give you a correct diagnosis. Maybe print out this post and show it to your mom. I hope this helps and that you get the help you need. johnnyboy

I agree with the others here! You are young, so it is very unlikely that any of your friends really have the experience needed to really be helpful here. Find a way that they can help. Perhaps you have a couple of friends who are always perky. Try making time to be with them doing things, Don't focus on your feelings, that can be for later or with friends/family who are closer to getting it. Consider them to be islands of diversion as you work through your issues.

Gentle hugs