Right, I've been thinking about this for a while and this is my thoughts for anyone who is considering leaving......

Long term depressive illness comes in cycles, just because some weeks you vent doesn't make you a bad person. They beauty of DS is that we are all in the same boat; sometimes we need to blurt it all out and be a bit selfish in order to survive, other times we can give more of ourselves to others in need. We all understand that and accept that of each other.

Ultimately you need to do whats best for you; only you can look after yourself, and everyone has to have that same perspective. You can empathise but not feel guilt for the pain of others; harsh yet true. Ultimately there is a limit to what DS friends can do. Even if you don't chat regularly, having you as a 'friend' on someones profile could tip the balance for someone suicidal; make them realise that even if we don't chat all the time, we are still there if advice or a rant is needed.

Basically; if DS is no longer helping you and you feel that it is dragging you down, then brilliant - its worked, be free and be happy, but remember to come back if you need to. If you're thinking of leaving because you believe that you are being selfish, then don't. As part of our illness, we all have to be selfish at times, we have to to survive. But the flip side of our nature is that we care about others; your consideration that you are being selfish is a testement to that.

Here you are 'normal'. But you have to acknowledge that even if we wear our pants over our trousers we are not, and never will be, superman/superwoman.

I'm off to bed to recharge my superhuman batteries, LOL. Good night all! xx