I get it most of the time, it has only stopped me from doing every thing I have ever wanted in this past 3 years. It will go again. I have learned to live with it. If you ever need a chat, I'm here. xx

im afrid im in the same boat..i even raised this point a few days ago coz everytime i read sumones profile they say the hav had depression for most of thier lives... i was hoping i cud get it away soon and life goes on...i guess its wat u make of it tho

I suppose the answer to the question is "it can be" deresin varies so much with different people.

It's a bit like the question "why do I have depression?" there just isn't one simple answer.

Well admittedly im havin a real bad day. I told someone else earlier to get herslef to work even though its really hard and guess what...I cant even get myself there today. I have made an appointment to see a doctor though so thats something at least. I'll probably end up losing my job and then have all the stress of losing my home cos i wont be able to pay the rent added onto all of this already but no matter what sense says to me....I just cant seem to make myself do anything. Its like someone has control of what I do or dont do. I dont know if any of you are in floods of tears, but im not. Not about me anyway. Il cry at the drop of a hat at a sad film etc but not at myslef. It takes too much energy which I dont have.

It can be depends how it is being treated. Anxiety's the same way.

You say if you had this feeling for 20 odd years you would not like to say what you would do about it. Hopefully you would educate yourself enough you would deal with it. Life is precious with or without depression. The best place to start learning and prepare yourself before hand is at your Dr's and also on this site or one like it.

Actually... doctors only diagnose you and possibly prescribe something and then send you on your way. Its counselling if anyhting that can help but with the NHS in the mess it is in, most cant get it until its too late.

The older you get the more of a loss you experience then you add aging and lost relationships and deal with your children's life. Some of us are left do it alone and it's just not possible. There's a difference between depression and a chemical imbalance as opposed to someone who is sad or grieving because of a life situation.

Sometimes it does feel like a life sentence. Mine so far is on and off for 30+ years. I just live life one day at a time, try to help, and be helped, and go from there. Oh; sense of humor is helpful too. One of my favorites; "don't take life too seriously, none of us is getting out of it alive."

#9...so its been on and off.. not constantly? Okay, thats different. I was under the impression that it was continuous. I have suffered with it on and off for around 12 years. More good than bad except for the last few years which have been one disaster after the other. As soon as i pick myself up...something comes to kick me back down again, just like many of you I would guess. I wonder though why with all the research in the world, are we still no nearer to actually curing it foe good.

i go for councilling but i also had a problem with nhs so i di it privately.. i can give a telephone number of sumone..i dnt kno if its out ur way tho..messsage me if u want

Thanks Duzzie :) but Im skint and gona be even moe skint if I keep taking time off work :(
I dont even know if it'll help me but its worth a try. I think the waiting list is about 6 weeks here.

yea hun i kno its hard waiting...thats why i went to a private one...she charges 35 pounds tho

Mine has been on and off for around 15 years but I have learned to live with it. You learn to adapt to it and not let it run your life on a countinous basis. You just take one day at a time and you learn to take care of your self.

I've had constant mild depression for about 15 years now. Really, you get used to it. It only flares up and gets really bad every now and then.