So livewithintention, let me get this right, you made a choice between being sad and happy and, you chose sad yes?

To me depression is not a choice, its a physical state of our brains being hardwired differently and we react differently than so called "normal" people even though I believe the term "normal" is total bullsh"". Because our brains are wired differently, the 2 main drugs that keep us happy, seritonin and norepinephrine are not produced as much by the body or too much is produced. Either way, its not a choice to me. Its an environmental side effect and to some a coping mechanism. For me its just a really awful feeling when I plummet down the chasm as it were. Think of it as trying to get out of a 100ft hole with a 10ft ladder. Thats an easy analogy that people can understand.

So correct me if I've misinterpreted you NYerinWI, but depressed people are different because they were born that way?

No not necessarily, it can come about from a situation such as trauma or over time things just dont work like they should. I heard once that a good portion of the WORLD population (around 40%) that are undiagnosed have some form of depression and either refuse to believe/admit it or they just dont know. Scary thought

Yeah I agree a scary thought, depression is the most common mental disorder apparently. Although no longer depressed, I once became so because of living with an addict, I learned that such type depression is called situational. I became so sick that now I am on meds for chemical imbalance for the rest of my life, I did nothing wrong and am paying a permanent penalty for it. The meds are working though, allowing me to be happy again and, I'm no longer associated with the addict.

There are ways of lessening the effect, I agree through medications and therapy, but even the best meds/therapy will not solve everything. Its like a tick, once it burrows in, its hard to get rid of. There will always be something to kick you back into that state at some point in your life. For me my "situational" issues stem from Sept 11th and what I did there. They say "Never Forget." I swear to God if you saw what I saw, know whst I know, you would wish like hell you could forget. Anyways, a kind of morbid joke I have is that they are trying to find cures for cancer and AIDS. How about finding a cure for living - it has a 100% mortality rate

LOL, I like morbid jokes for some unknown reason. What little I know about depression is that in the main it is handed on to you from fellow depressed people. Sick people making healthy people sick like, there are exceptions though of course, with you being one of.

I have also read to an extent depression/anxiety can be passed down from mom to child so there is another element to add to all this

Depression is very complex. There are many potential causes. Ask any North Korean. Circumstances can CERTAINLY cause depression ... AND so can metabolic disorders .... and though they don't HAVE TO, the two often aggravate each other. I do not believe anyone CHOOSES a disorder such as clinical depression.

I have clinical depression that is "controlled " by medication. 3 attempts of suicide one while in the hospital lol. Even with the meds though I go through life waiting for the next shoe to fall. My ability to trust is gone. I truly believe that EVERYBODY knows me better than I do and that people are talking behind my back about who I am but they won't tell me! I feel if they would just tell me, I could try to be the way they want me to be. I have had therapy many times but after a few sessions, I start thinking THEY have the answers to who I am. .but I am so horrible they don't want to tell me. I am now all but a recluse. I never get out or involved because I worry too much about what people are thinking. They call it Major Depressive Disorder. I call it life.

@wanderingvet thanks because when I first read this post I was like wtf?! I just told my fiance I don't know ANYBODY that wakes up one day jumps out of bed and says, "yes I want a mental illness that f***ks with my mind/emotions and everything else for months if not years! Oh yeah please bring it on!" I know I sure as hell can do without my MDD/GAD, but it's part of me and I'm dealing with it.

gregsbaby I made this post because of a sense that it was relevant to, and if you was to have read the first comment on it, you would have found that my suspicion was confirmed, some depressed people are so by choice, I find that hard to swallow too, just like you do.

I'm sorry gregsbaby the comment I was referring to has been removed.

Depression is not a choice. It is more relevant to ask if what is/are the choice(s) that made us depressed. People who are struggling physically and emotionally didnt choose it, it is just an accumulation of thoughts and pressure from a choice or a happening

I fell into clinical depression straight outta high school. Never felt like I was equal or would ever amount to anything at all. Majority of my life has consisted of being locked inside my room. Ignoring calls / texts, losing weight, decreased sleep cycles, and a very unhealthy mental state of being. I get uncomfortable in crowds, and I have successfully pushed away everyone who has ever given a shit about me. If you've choosen to live this way I feel very sorry for you, because I've tried my best to put on a brave face, but I am dealt this hand of depression. If you're able to remain joyful I would recommend that. Much better than a life of constant sorrow, and limited hope for a better tomorrow.