First of all welcome to DS in general and to the depression group specifically! I am pleased to meet you, but sorry for the reasons that have caused our paths to cross.

My name is pepper, and I am one of the user moderators assigned to the depression group. WanderingVet (as in the former military person, not an animal doctor) is the other. DS calls us community leaders, or CL for sort. A strange name, but it is their site. If you have questions about DS in general, please feel free to drop me or any CL a messsage.

Depression sucks, there are no two ways about it.

From my experiences and observations, there are two basic causes of depression: either our brain chemistry is off, or we have experiences that have led us into depression. Possibly a combination of both.

I am not a doctor, but it is my belief that if it is brain chemistry that got us here, then we will likely need medication to help us. If the brain chemistry is only a little bit off then we may not need much (or any) meds. But that is just my observation, please work this out with your professional team.

But we do need to understand why we are depressed. That means confronting things that, in many cases, we would rather not do. It can be hard, very hard, but we have to do it. Being honest with our therapists is very critical. If we just don't trust them, then we need to find others that we may be more comfortable with.

If you are ready to share some of your journey with us, it is quite possible that somebody here has similar issues and can share their experiences (what works and what did not work).

Until then, please accept that many of us here have felt the way you do, that life has nothing to offer us. But when we put the work into understanding and defeating our depression, that is when we make progress.

Gentle hugs, and welcome

Don't give up, I know how hard it is. But take one second at a time, and when you get to five count again. I believe in you!! You are very strong to reach out, I can see some hope in you!

Thank you.

I am having a mid life crisis. I have no hope that there is anything worth living for or any happiness ahead of me at this point. I am terrified by the thought of aging, and there is nothing I can do about this.

The prospect of aging can be very scary. I never thought that I would live to see 30, but here I am at 45. Depression sucks! But we are here for you so that you can blow off steam, break down, cry, beat a rubber chicken against the wall, whatever. Will you share some of your journey with us?

I don't think I can do this. This getting older thing. I am paralyzed. There's nothing left in life.

Hi there. I completely understand what you're feeling. First and foremost though, please do not kill yourself. I know it seems like a great option but think of how hurt everyone would be and all of the things you'd never be able to experience. Do you feel you have people to talk to? If you'd like one there's this girl I know that runs this Instagram account @missionbetterworld and she would love to talk to you and will keep what you say private unless you say your going to kill yourself or others. On another note, you do have a beautiful future even though you can't see it now, and it's only beautiful if your living in it.

Sorry that you are in a terrible state of depression. I have been there and I'm now doing much better. Everyone has their own story. What has made a big difference for me is prayer, counseling, a supportive group, medication, family, new supportive friends. Feel free to friend me. Wishing you all the best.

I am 63, and know I am aging. I have recently lost both parents, so I have mortality lessons that I have recently learned, and am still learning.

You say you are paralyzed, I am so sorry to hear that. How much mobility do you have?

No, I'm sorry. I am paralyzed from fear and depression. I'm in such a panic I can't even express myself properly.

I'm a newbie here too. Currently am dealing with depression on a daily basis and I can relate to how you feeling. Don't be too hard on yourself as depression just has a way of making everything look bad.

dude i am 28, jobless, hopeless, suffering with kidney stones, Amoebiasis, herpes which can't be cured, life goes on, don't be disappointed in yourself, yes most people around you are happy, they have things that you carve for, but they too face sh**, they just don't share it