Hi. This is Kellie. I just wanted to do a page on depression and let others out there know they are not alone. Depression still to this day carries an ugly ring to it. People (including me) have a hard time admitting even to themselves that they might need help. I refused to acknowledge it for about 8 years. Depression is hereditary in my family. Growing up with family members with depression I swore to myself that I would never be like that. Like telling myself would make it true:) I have been on medication now for about 5 years and it is wonderful. I still have occasional bad days but it is better than an occasional bad month or two or three! Back when I was a kid if you had depression all they could give you was Valium. Basically they just sedated you. Now they are aware it is a chemical imbalance and try with medications to correct it. Living with depression is no paradise. You are afraid to make long range plans (a week in advance) to commit to go anywhere with anyone because you don't know what kind of day you will be having. You get scared that , what if I am having one of those days when I can't even stand to be around myself. It takes a really good friend who understands depression to stay by you. A lot of people feel as if you are cold or something, because you might be going through a bad time and you just don't want to socialize. I have learned to take it one day at a time and tell myself so I am having a bad day hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Family members can also hinder you in getting help. They are embarrassed that you need medication for something that they don't think of as an illness. They are afraid people will think you are crazy. Sometimes it finally gets bad enough that even your family members finally just want you to be better. If you feel that you need help get it!!! Don't tell yourself I am just having a bad month. Then you have another bad month several months later and as soon as it's over you tell yourself I'm okay. I tried that for years and guess what? It doesn't work. I am not saying that if you go and see a doctor you will get miraculously better. In two years I have been on three different medications. Some work for some people and some don't. The medications take several weeks to start working. Don't give up if you finally get medication, you take it a week and you're not singing and dancing. Anyway the basis of this message is you are NOT ALONE! There is help and there is no shame in going to get it. I will try and add some links on this page to some resources for people with depression. I am not an expert. There are many kinds of depression. If you haven't already get help. God Bless! Hugs ;)