others share their depression experiences and what they've learned

Paula

As most of you know, there are different types of depression. I have clinical depression (major depression), which is a chemical imbalance in the brain that has to be treated with medication. Depression runs in my family and I happened to inherit the genes from my relatives. Lucky me!

It took many years, many therapists and many different antidepressant medications before I found the combination that worked for me. I lived with depression and panic/anxiety for so long, that I had to 'learn' to be positive, to look at life with optimism. I say 'learn' because it did not come to me naturally. I had to practice being positive before I was any good at it.

I took a self-esteem class, relaxation classes, and even bought meditation tapes to listen to at home to further help me relax and relieve the panic/anxiety. It was very difficult in the beginning, but I stuck to it until I started reaping the benefits. Relaxation exercises became a daily routine. Even if I didn't feel like it, I would do them for at least a couple of minutes each day.

The next thing I started doing, was keeping a daily mood journal. I wrote down everything I was feeling and got it all out on paper. Bringing my dark feelings out into the open light of day where I could see them, was a very positive way of healing. I also learned to heal myself by offering my support to others who are struggling along the same path of recovery.

Two years ago, I started keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, I open my gratitude journal and write five things I'm grateful for - anything from being thankful for my morning coffee to giving thanks for having a safe place to live. I am truly amazed at the number of positive things I have uncovered in my daily life through the entries in my gratitude journal.

Positive, inspiring and motivational books made a big impact on my outlook. I read as many books as I could, whenever I could read them. My depression often made it difficult to concentrate, but without even realizing it, my brain actually absorbed the information.

I fed my soul positive messages and nurtured new found feelings of self worth and hope.

What nature forgot to teach me, I went out and learned for myself.

If you have gotten this far, then I thank you for taking the time to read this page. Depression can sometimes cause irritable feelings and a lack of concentration. If you feel, in any way, so depressed that you feel you cannot handle things anymore, PLEASE, go for help.

Taia

I was diagnosed with depression as a result of being in a car accident. It as changed my life completely. I have TBI (traumatic brain injury). Because of the accident, I have a chemical imbalance which means that my mood and behavior are inconsistent.

I live day-by-day.

Some days. I feel empty inside. I don't have any feeling of wanting to do anything. I am currently in college, but I feel empty. I enjoy my classes but don't understand why I decided to go back to college. There is no one outside my family and my fiancé who understands what I am going through.

I feel like my mind is stuck in 1997. I feel comfortable there. But reality hasn't struck me yet that the year 2003 is approaching.

continue: Debbie: Other Things I Learned About Depression the Hard Way