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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Stevearino, post: 3067302, member: 74571&quot;]Hey Erin, </p><p>Saw you “liked” a few posts now and then, but didn’t realize you were struggling with the “Black Dog” as Churchill called his depression.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you for sharing.&nbsp; I think I’ve mentioned on CT (maybe in a PM, maybe publicly) that I’ve struggled with depression for over thirty years.&nbsp; It wasn’t until I was planning my suicide that I (with the help of friends/family/counselors and the medical community) realized I was suffering from a mental illness (and wasn’t just a bad person/husband/father/pastor).</p><p><br /></p><p>To be perfectly honest, it’s been a rough go at times.&nbsp; But some things that have helped:</p><p>1.&nbsp; People (like you) who share their experiences.&nbsp; I realized I wasn’t alone.</p><p>2.&nbsp; Authors like William Styron (<i><b>Darkness Visible) </b></i>who have been given the gift to “describe the indescribable” pain of depression.</p><p>3.&nbsp; Exercise.&nbsp; It’s the last thing we feel like doing, but helpful when we just decide to do it, even if only a ten minute walk.</p><p>4.&nbsp; Medication.&nbsp; But I’ve learned that I have needed wise medical practitioners to help me through the journey of finding the right med(s) and dosage(s).&nbsp; I can’t even guess at how many adjustments I’ve had over the past thirty years. </p><p>5.&nbsp; Support of people who care and don’t view mental illness as a weakness to be conquered by will power (as in, try getting over chronic diarrhea by will power and let me know how well that works).</p><p>6.&nbsp; Good therapists.&nbsp; Although I didn’t cause my depression (and it’s fruitless to blame my genetic predisposition for it) I have, by my thought processes and behaviors, contributed to it.</p><p>7.&nbsp; Spiritual resources.&nbsp; I don’t want to break Forum rules by speaking of spirituality so will just invite anyone to PM me if interested.</p><p><br /></p><p>Erin (and anyone else who might also be struggling) I am in a better place today than I have been since the late 80s.&nbsp; Depression can be <b>managed</b> (I hesitate to flatly say conquered because the Black Dog will often lie in the background, waiting for a chance to pounce).&nbsp; Best wishes to you as you fight.&nbsp; Please PM me at any time if you want to communicate with someone who has been there/is there.</p><p><br /></p><p>Steve[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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