I guess mine isnt life long depression, but I have had depression since I was like ten or eleven. I am finally much much happier so yes it really is possible to overcome it. I never believed when people told me that and I dont fully understand what I did or changed but dont give up hope because it is possible. Please try to find a therapist that you really connect with because without mine I would have commit suicide a long time ago. But now I am glad to be alive and usually am pretty happy. So keep trying and you'll start smiling!

thanks rich. it is. i had to try to gather up some change before work this morning and run to walgreens so i could buy one of those capsasian heat patches to put on my shoulder because it was hurting so bad and I hadn't even started the day yet. I want to admit myself to my shrinks hospital. I've had two there strongly suggest it, but I've been too scared because I've never done that and my husband's mother was treated very badly in one in another state several years ago. So he doesn't want me to go. So I'm torn and scared and breaking down mentally and physically and mentally. And staff is short at work so I'm being moved around to areas that make me very uncomfortable in a week. My mom put one of our kitties, Princess to sleep yesterday. she was about 15 years old and she decided she was going to be aneorexic after being a fat cat her whole life and we couldn't get her to gain weight. My husband is so sick with crohn's and PAN that all he does is sleep. And all the time I've known him I was always amazed at how little he slept. I remember the good ol' days before he told me how sick he was and that he got and had more access to his parents money. We went out all the time. We went out to the book stores and got coffees, read magazies. Went out to decent resturants, didn't have to worry about having food, actual meat to eat. He bought me clothes and I had to tell him not to spend as much money as he wanted to spend that it wasn't necessary. Now that's all gone. The money, his health, my health. All we want to do is sleep because there isn't anything to do, and nothing decent to eat. So that's our sad life, just hoping we can get back to sleep as soon as possible.

I know what you mean about wanting to sleep, lifes a struggle for me at the moment too, have to work all the time, when i get home my mum is too ill to do anything and i have to look after the house and i feel so depressed and my brain feels like it isnt working so its a real struggle plus im studying and my concentration is down and finding it hard to motivate myself. But i live with the hope things will get better im trying to set myself up for the future, shiny I hope things get better for you soon at least you have your husband some people dont have anyone.

I'm sorry for all your struggles too rich. I was alone for most of my adult life so I won't comment on whether having someone or not is easier. I'm starting to think things would be easier if I was by myself. anyway, i hope you reach your goals, you should be proud of yourself. thank you for your support.

For most Depression is, as stated before, just like any other disease ie: Diabetes. You have to be aware of it and treat it just like you would any other disease you have in your body. Anybody who comes at you with "you just have to snap out of it" or "what have you got to be depressed over" Has their heads up their butts. Depression is something you can learn to work around it does not have to control you as long as you do keep yourself healthy and do your best to seek out positive things in your life.

i dont tell anyone i have this illness for them to say to me pull urself together, in fact someone comented a few months ago that i seemed moody which is unlike me cause im always happy, which is very untrue cause ive been depressed all my life but it is funny how other people see u as the opposite to how u really are which can be comforting.

dysthemia.

find a positive outlet, and just let go. mine was music and writing; but hey, what do i know? i'm only fifteen.

Sorry to hear of your stuggles..24years I have been coping with depression we are old enymies I used to rush here and there to find a cure.Now I think the beginning of the cure is acceptance.The fighting in your head is tiring and uses up precious energy. I take my medication and live each day as it comes.When I panic about my situation it makes it worse.So like others have said its an ongoing thing which oneday who knows may clear away and you can live in this hope.Meanwhile someone told me" dont wrestle just nestle "and it does work ,but it takes practise .Good luck and if at first you dont succeed "pick yourself up brush yourself off and start all over again

I started with depressive attitudes about the age of 11 I was hospitalized when I was 16 (committed) and forced to have EST. I now have a condition that is rapid swing clinical depression. I can feel fine and all of a sudden drop like a rock. I am 56 now and still have the same conditions, I am also chemically intolerant to medication, that makes it far worse. The best thing I do is simply accept that this is my life and get on with it.

I, too, have suffered from depression for most of my life. It isn't easy, but finding someone who accepts you as you are and who supports you unconditionally is one of the best things you can do for yourself in my humble oppinion. The reality is you may not ever completely overcome your depression, but you can learn to live with it and deal with it effectively. Just be kind to yourself when you don't feel so good and remember tomorrow you may feel better. If not, then just continue to take very good care of yourself until you do feel better. I certainly don't have all the answers or I wouldn't struggle with this horrendous illness on a day-to-day basis myself; however, I do know there are things we can do to help ourselves. Give yourself kudos for the things you do to help yourself like joining this website. Also, I would like to suggest a wonderful book called Feeling Good by Dr. David D Burns. Another suggestions,start a gratitude journal where before going to bed every night, you list the GOOD things that occurred during the day. Even if you only list one thing, then just focus on that one thing. I don't know you, but I will bet there is probably a lot of good stuff about you. Meditating on that good stuff may help you to feel better about yourself. These are all merely suggestions, but they do help me. I wish you the very best in dealing with this unforgiving illness.

that is a hard question to answer, b/c you know how there is that little insecure voice inside saying that this is the ultimate of it all. no matter how you come through on things and get on top of things, there will always be that dark shitty hole.

but there's no guarantee that it won't go away, either

sometimes it seems like you know some things and that changes as you get older, so if right now it seems as if we know life is shitty and we always fall into that mind set, then it's possible there's another mindset we don't yet know how to grasp..

I think maybe it is possible to defeat it, just finding the right way its incredibly tough!