what do you know about this stuff?

I'm sure you know someone who has it. A few months ago I got to the point I didn't want to do anything or go anywhere, couldn't sleep, talk about moody. My Dr. ask me a few questions and she said I was going into depression. I am now taking medication and I see a big change in me. Yes, I think pills can help. But every one is different.

Agree with the others - you probably know quite a few people with depression but most sufferers are the ones who are best at putting on ' their face'. That laughing bubbly girl in the office is just as likely to be falling apart on the inside, she is probably scared, confused and ashamed. People suffering from depression usually use the words should a lot :- I should be able to do this I should be coping better I should be stronger................. Anti- depressants can help but cognitive behaviour therapy both on a one to one and in groups although scary is what worked best for me. I have suffered from several bouts of quite severe depression and last time I wouldn't talk about it until it got to the stage where I couldn't walk or talk properly because my seratonin level was so low that my brain was going slower all the time and couldn't work properly. Once I started getting help I was appointed a mental health support worker who helped me get to the stage where I could cope with group therapy - not as most people thimk a bunch of people moping around crying but such an empowering feeling to know that other people understand how you feel and that you can support and encourage each other... sorry if I've gone on too much but I feel very passionately that it is not a case of 'pulling yourself together' as some people would say but a case of building someones confidence and strength, combined with anti-depressants to fuel up that seratonin in the brain - after all if a diabetic person has to take insulin you wouldn't dream of telling them they are weak or need to pull themselves together - would you...

I have to agree with the other poster, that I'm sure there are people you know of that do suffer from depression but they aren't very open about it. I know that when I was diagnosed I only told a very limited number of people because it wasn't something that I wanted people to know about. While I think pills can help, I don't think it will cure it and it's been my experience that pills only work for so long before having little to no affect.

I think it is a desease a lot of people suffers. It is usually hidden and it doesn't show in a precise way, but a lot of behaviours are leadable to it.

I'm sure you do know someone with depression you just dont know they have it. I have suffered from depression for over 10 years now but i am also good at hiding it, I take anti depressants and know they help, when not on them i can barely function whereas on them i am able to work and lead a somewhat normal life.

We're out there, trust me. People are always surprised when I tell them.