yes, no, maybe. doesnt matter, its only a word. I dont have a smart answer for you, i just wish you all the happiness i can to dilute the feeling you have. xxxx

I wish I could give you the answer you want, but depression will likely be with you for the rest of your life. The difference is that it can be managed & treated. You do not have to feel the despair all the time.

You are in my thoughts & prayers.

Sounds like you are really struggling right now...My prayers are with you.

Anyone who is depressed goes through that. Some days seem like a never-ending battle just to make it through the day.

I did not seek treatment until I was 27. My counselor helped me see the pattern of depression in my life from my early teens. I just turned 35 and with the help of counseling (off and on) and the right medication and dosage, I now have mostly good days.

It sounds like you have been actively fighting your depression for about a year. Be patient, give yourself time to heal. The good days will come, more and more often. Anticipating the bad days that the future may hold will just make the good days worse.

Does everyone that is depressed have thoughts of suicide?

well the thing is this ... depression is a disease and needs to be treated with meds, or therapy, depends on the individual....it can take a while to find the right med and the right therapist and then it can take a while for the med/therapist to work....

good news is this...you are young and so there is lots of time for you to act, but you need to act, the longer you wait the long it will take to feel better....

in the meantime you have us, you are never alone....there is always someone here to talk to, and give you advise.....talk to me anytime....lots of love....jann

ok to answer that, in my experience most people with depression have some sort of suicidal ideation at one time or the other....but we get past it

I think sometimes its a case of accepting that its just part of you and learning ways of how to deal with it. Getting a good therapist and the right meds help though. I feel the same though and have found this site to be good therapy for me and hope it will be for you too. You are not alone. x

When things really got tough for me I had to stop work. I don't know when I will be ready to go back. I really don't even like to be in a room of more than 4 people at a tie\me including me. I guess I have yet to become functional with my depression.

I can't speak for everyone, but yes. I have thoughts of suicide when the depression gets bad. Even people who are not depressed have thoughts of wishing it was all over with at times though they are usually just passing thoughts for them. I was treated about 14 years ago for depression and on medications & in therapy. My therapist felt I was adapting well and I was taken off the meds & stopped therapy. I was ok until I lost my boyfriend 5-1/2 years ago. But I didn't seek help until recently and now things are getting really out of control for me. Please seek help from your doctor. They will be able to find the best way to help you... tho it might take some time. Stick around here as well. I am find this place very helpful... I can let things out without burdening my friends or family. If I upset, I can yell & scream in my journal to vent out the pain & hurt.

Try not to expect it to still be there when you wake up. Concentrate your energies on getting it under control; check out my profile, I know what its like.
Are you on meds / seeing a psychiatrist?

know how you feel, i have been that way for 2 years...

I have a therapist and I stopped taking meds. My husband helps me daily.

I felt that the meds were just hiding how I felt but it was not helping me deal with the source.

Medication helps to get you out of the pit I think you should return to your doctor tomorrow. Your therapist should help you with dealing with any issues that have triggered this episode and help to teach you to manage triggers and cope with these ill felings, which will, over time, subside.

The right med combo (for those who do better on meds), knowing your warning signs and triggers; and learning and using coping mechanisms all help in your own wellbeing.

There's no real way of knowing/predicting how long a person's depression will last, but the severity of it certainly can be lessened