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I struggled for years with depression not even knowing what it was. I was outgoing and always smiling on the outside but was crying on the inside. Every holiday when families got together, especially Christmas, I would silently cry myself to sleep after everyone else had went to bed. A time when everyone else was happy, I was sad.

I couldn't even remember the last time I was truly happy and I didn't know why. I had a beautiful home,a wonderful family and good friends. I had no reason to feel like I did. One day I read an article in a magazine that described Clinical Depression. As I read the article I realized that I was suffering from almost all of the symptoms. Was it possible that I was depressed? I stowed the article in my desk and it was another year before I decided to seek help.

I had heard about people turning their lives around after seeking and getting the help they needed, but I found it hard to believe. My life seemed hopeless and finally, after a particularly difficult week, I decided I had nothing to lose. I was desperate! I looked through the yellow pages til I found a doctor whose name I liked  : )  I know, I know, but I didn't really want to go to my family doctor for a referral.(Stigma had reared it's ugly head) After struggling for several days, I finally called and made an appointment. (My first victory!)

I had to make myself follow through on the appointment. Sitting outside the office building in my car, I wanted to turn around and drive away. The fact was.....I was really scared and I didn't know what to expect. I finally got out of the car, put one foot in front of the other and walked into the office. (My second victory) The doctor was very nice and asked me lots of questions. I guess we talked for about an hour. Nothing like I thought it would be (Not as seen on tv) After the session (you don't have to lay on the couch by the way) he wrote a prescription and scheduled me for another appointment. That day, I begin to live the rest of my life.

It was a year before I was taken off of the anti-depressants and I continued therapy for awhile longer. The doctor and the medication turned my life around. Literally! I began to LIVE for the first time in my life. Even enjoying the holidays! (Victory!!!!!) My biggest regret is that I didn't seek the help I needed sooner.

Depression can happen to anyone.....State leaders and celebraties have often talked about their depression,Mike Wallace, Willard Scott,and Tipper Gore have all sought help for Clinical Depression. If we have a fever we take tylenol, if we become sick we see our doctor. If we are feeling depressed and can't pull ourselves out of it, we let it go and put off seeking help, thinking things will get better. There is still stigma in todays society concerning mental illness, although it is much more acceptable today to seek help then in my grandmother's day. If you think you might be clinically depressed, don't cheat yourself out of feeling well and being happy! If you know someone who you think might be depressed, pass information about the disease on to them. Here are some facts on Clinical Depression........

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The term "depression" is often used to describe a very normal emotion that passes quickly. Everyone feels "down," 'blue," or sad occasionally. But major depression is a "whole-body" illness, affecting the way a person eats, sleeps and feels about one's self. It is not a passing blue mood. People with major depression often feel sad, helpless, hopeless and irritable.

Although it is perfectly normal to experience these feelings occasionally, people suffering from clinical depression cannot simply "snap out of it." It is the persistence and severity of these emotions that distinguishes the mental disorder of depression from normal mood changes.

The term "clinical depression" means the depression is severe enough to require treatment. Types of clinical depression include major depression, dysthymia, double depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder.

Depressive illness usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood. It is often not recognized as an illness, and thus people who have it may suffer for years without a proper diagnosis or treatment.

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Symptoms and their severity vary with each individual case of depression.

Depression affects approximately 17.6 million Americans each year. The highest rates of depressive disorders are found among those aged 24-44, and the rate of clinical depression for women is about double that of men.

Studies show that depression is the illness that underlies the majority of suicides, is the eighth leading cause of death, and is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. One of the best strategies for preventing suicide is the early recognition and treatment of depression.

Although scientists do not know the exact mechanism that triggers depression, they do know that a serious loss, chronic illness, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any unwelcome change in life patterns can trigger a depressive episode. Also, people with a family history of depression are generally at higher risk.

Depression is one of the most treatable mental illnesses. Between 80 and 90 percent of all depressed people respond to treatment and nearly all depressed people who receive treatment see at least some relief from their symptoms. Psychiatrists agree that severely depressed patients do best with a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years.
 

Mrs. Gore acknowledged in a newspaper interview in May she had been treated for depression, but had not provided details of her treatment beyond saying it included medication.Gore watched his wife approvingly as she spoke, nodding his head in support as she stressed the importance of family support in dealing with mental illness."I hope you can imagine how proud I am of Tipper and her leadership role," Gore told the gathering."We learned from Tipper's experience that ... when mental illness strikes, it affects not only the person who is involved but the entire family," Gore said."And for our family, we became much stronger as a result of this experience," he said. "And that's principally due to the tremendous courage that Tipper herself showed."Mrs. Gore has been actively involved in mental health issues, particularly since her husband became vice president in 1993. Her interest stemmed in part from her mother's bouts with depression.

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