Well I have suffered thoroughout my life with recurring bouts of depression. It went undiagnosed for many years and I rearely socialised except for work function, flet unworthy and was an extremely unhappy person till I attempted suicide at 30 years old.

I then had professional help and started the long climb upwards.
My marriage stated to go wrong and it all started happening agian but it was now even worse as i have diabetes and depression and diabetes together are a pretty bad combination, they feed off each other.

I had severe clinical depression for 3 years and am now on an anti drepssant called effexor that is only indicated in very difficult cases. I will be on that now for the rest of my life.

I have told quite a few people now that i have had depression, it seems that it is acceptable to have that sort of mental condition as I have had quite a positive response. If I said I had schizophrenia then perhaps I would have had some less positive reactions.

The people around me suffered a fair bit too but there was really nothing much they could do to help me except to show love and support.

I am quite stable these days, moving out on my own has taken an enormous stress off me and I think that ith that out of the way I will have a good chance of remaining out of the "black hole"