My mother had serious depression issues and each one of us kids has been on depression meds at one or more points in our life.

I try hard not to let my depression show. Curious and I have discussed this as how she tries not to let her pain show through and I really don't let people know how depressed I am. Sometimes...no oftentimes I wonder if they wouldn't have me committed if they only knew.

I'm there in that same boat with you Julie......

((((hugs))))
to my friends.

but when you do find someone that will listen and understand...that will try and help...doesn't that help for awhile? getting those feelings out?

isn't that one of the reasons why a support forum like this has helped? finding people who DO understand.

as julie said i hide my pain. heck even from myself. if i give in to it...what then? i saw a woman on dr phil yesterday. what an inspiration! over 50..spen her 40's batteling breat and colon cancer. her 3 kids were little. she got up every day and made sure her kids didn't see her suffering. she didn't want to leave them with that legacy.

i don't either. that legancy was handed down to me. i'm breaking that cyvle.

i know both of you...julie and goofy. you have stopped that legacy also. you both have wonderful kids. ok...gooofy...not sure what we can do about scott and losing coats....but still awesome kids!! and awesome mama's who BIG TIME are great friends to ME!!!! i love you both. now...go bake me some brownies. i have coffee done.

I started off wondering about depression and now I'm wondering about a lot of things...

I'm wondering about the D-word, and why it even exists that way.

I'm wondering about withdrawing when you need to be around people.

I'm wondering about hiding your pain vs. showing it. Isn't there room for both??? Aren't both necessary in their own time?

I'm wondering about fooling yourself. That sounds curious...

But I still think that talking about your depression, with the right person, is the speediest and best single help for it in the world.

i wonder if idealist is lost? hehe

Yes, there does seem to be a genetic link involved, but some recent studies I noticed on Doc'd health news stuff showed that environment also plays a big part, and also aquired biochemical imbalances etc etc. Truly a very little understood issue

when my husband is depressed, he just wants to be left alone. and I have learned to just leave him be and not fuss over him etc cuz that isnt what he wants

however

my son wants me to listen........
just listen.....
not do any "there there pats" or offer any advice or solutions.........
he just needs to talk about how he is feeling.
It is really good therapy for him. Seems just talking about it sorts a lot out for him and he tends to be more upbeat once he has been able to voice things

(((hugs))) to all of you.
I have noticed that people who suffer with depression also seem to be people who are very deeply caring, feeling people

I knew something was terribly wrong with me -- nobody loved me and I tried and tried and tried SO HARD when I was just 4 or 5. Good grief - that was 1948 or 49. I tried to be good enough to make somebody love me and tried to figure out why nobody did.
Then I finally heard, I think, Gene Autry, on the radio singing "Beautiful, Beautiful Brown Eyes, I'll Never Love Blue Eyes Again". That was it. I have green eyes. People love brown eyes and they love blue eyes. Nobody loves green eyes. I was so happy I ran out of the house and around and around the pond laughing and singing that wonderful song.

Of course mom and grandma both hated me because it was my fault dad ran off with a 16 year old girl named Nancy. Mom was 9 months pregnant with me when he did that. If I hadn't been there he never would have done that. Sometimes mom says she named me Nancy so dad could never forget it. Other times she says that he named me Nancy so she never forgets it. Good grief.
I promise to not go on.

Awwww big hugs Jingle.

(((Jingle)))

(((Jingle))) That story really makes me think. Thank you.

Yes, Chemar, that makes sense. I tend to isolate myself and write stuff down sometimes, so in my own way I'm doing what both your husband and son are doing. I don't talk a lot.