that is why so many of us lie about how we are "doing". I could write about this topic forever. if you have time see my journal, there some more about this topic as of today.

Most of the people in my life just tell me to "snap out of it". That's what makes this a great site, everyone understands.

We understand here!

i no you guys do this site is my saviour lol

Yeah, we have a series of ads on TV here in NZ trying to make the public more aware of mental illness. One former all black discusses his journey and it's great. His best mate told him to toughen up but as we know, it doesn't work that way. That's why Ilike this site too - heaps of people who are on the same page!!

I have said to husband...

"If I got to wake up in the morning and choose how I felt...do you really think I would pick sad and angry every day?"

made him think

for one thing i cant understand why there is still a stigma attach to "our illness"..just because its not shown in a physical way doesnt mean its not real for christ sake..when will plp understand..and i think that you dont have to sit there and explain..they wouldnt understand anyway...

vent away and then vent some more. People dont understand true chemical imbalance depression. I dont think anyone can until they suffer from it.

Well put pixie

it is true, i love my dad but today he finally relised how bad it is because he read this article about it and turnt to me and said i read it and thougt of you because that is totally how you said you felt see my dad is a praticle man and wants to fix me praticly bless him

i know what you are saying, its difficult to explain that you have depression and thats why you have been off work. they dont seem to understand, or take it like you are useing it as an excuse. u r right in saying that only other people who have been through it can truly understand. there is such a big stigma to it, like being in a phyicatric hospital, stigma all the way. it pees me off too, how can you explain to someone about depression? any ideas?

the way i explained it to my dad is that i feel i am in this deep balck hole that i cant get out of and when i do climb and resurface slightly i am pushed back down to the bottom of this hole and have to fight to get out again, ialso said that i dnt feel real like i am ina dream world and everything is passing me by

sometimes if you tell people you have been thru major burnout they can relate to that better than depression