Dumpling and Sandy I have started the program - on Session 2. Dumpling - I didn't crash and burn until I was over 21 and married. I did not recognize the depression. I was taught you could overcome almost anything, and I did. I continue to over achieve, and present to the world as 'normal'. 95% of the people I know would tell you that I am an extravert, intelligent and sucessful both at work and at home. I did, however, make very conscious decsions to direct my life. One was to never marry an alcoholic (or even a drinker); two was to raise my children in a supportive and caring family; three was never to be a single mother. Lessions I had learned at an early age. My kids, also are very successful and again most people would not realize they had problems. They do though and I believe that I can help them most by improving my own life, show them that there are ways to enjoy life at the base level - not where we present to others.I do however believe, that 'chemistry' and 'genetics' have A GREAT DEAL of influence on our brain. I also believe that enviornments are extremely important. We just started off with a slight disadvantage from birth. There is no shame in taking medication or counselling if it improves quality of life. Finding the balance however is extremely difficult. Relaying it to the kids in another matter. I am so glad that you both are finding this site a help. I sincerely hope I can gleen from it what you do.

Tipper and Y-Claire ... Welcome to you both! It seems like many of us here share a long history of depression. I certainly do. I'm 48 and have battled it all my life. I find this program and this support board both very helpful. I'm still working session 1, but already I feel more hopeful. I find the people here so understanding and not being alone in this is so healing. Plus I'm learning more every day about some of my issues (like OCD). Welcome!

Hi Tipper, Welcome to our support community. The Depression Center offers personalized, interactive tools that have helped thousands of people challenge and overcome their depression. If you look to the left of the screen under "PROGRAM TOOLS" you'll find our Depression Test, Session Diary, CBT Buddies and our Depression Program. The purpose of our Depression Test is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When you're finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor. Your Session Diary is your Depression Program "Control Center." Your Session Diary contains all of your tools, worksheets and results as you move through each of the 16 Sessions in the Depression Program. Our CBT Buddies and Online Support Group allows you to have some anonymous assistance when dealing with depression. The CBT Buddies and Online Support Group is offered on a 24-hour basis and allows you to communicate with others like you around the world. The core of The Depression Center is our Depression Program which is an interactive, 16-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)course. When using cognitive behavioral therapy, each person has unique goals in their treatment. Whatever your motivation, cognitive behavioral therapy is a very effective treatment for depression. You can use the tools whether or not you are taking medication, and whether or not you are currently seeing a therapist or mental health professional. The Depression Program has a number of tools and resources to help each individual overcome their depression and win. We hope you find the help you need within The Depression Center. If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding our site or with depression please click the "CONTACT US" link at the bottom of the page. We're open to any questions or concerns you may have. Casey ____________________________ The DC Support Team

I also have a family history of depression. I am 60. My father was adopted and struggled with depression all his life until he developed a brain tumour and became outgoing and cheerful. My brother killed himself. My sister is a total recluse. But i have successfully (more of less) broken the chain. I consciously thought about how to raise my children so that they would not suffer like I have. When I was about 11, I analyzed what I liked and hated myself and changed, as best I could, what I hated. And I thought about the environmental factors that had led to some of the things I hated and worked hard at not repeating the mistakes wehn I had children. I have 3 children. One gets depressed from time to time but manages it well. The other two are fine. ( well, not perfect, but they don't get deeply depressed) It definitely has something to do with brain chemistry but there is more than that going on

I am 58 - (very close to y-clare's age). Depression in my family is an incredible secret. Anglo-Saxon 'stiff upper lip' and all that rot (good stuff?). My father was adopted - so no family history on his side, however he committed suicide at 41. I have a son that I did not raise, nor did I know until 10 years ago - unfortunately he has had a life long battle with depression and attempted suicide once that I am aware of. I have another son (that I did raise) who called and begged for help. His wife and I took him to hospital last year and he was admitted (thoughts of suicide) - has been suffering from signs of depression since I can remember. I don't know, but I believe both my brothers (in particular my oldest brother has suffered since my dad's death and maybe before)have had many years of depression. I don't know about suicide with them. They don't talk about feelings. We have all done quite well especially considering our rather shakey background. My daughter (my youngest) takes a minimum dosage of Paxil. She is in her 3rd year of university and its like watching a roller coaster ride. I can hardly bear the fact that I feel responsible for my children's problems. I have always felt that some sort of chemical was wonky inside of me. My chemistry was wrong - I work hard not to be anxious - I hate the feeling but in so doing I have to work very hard to avoid severe depression. I believe that all 3 of my children suffering from depression (including the one I didn't raise and who was one of 5 in his adoptive family and none of the others were depressive), that it is a genetic problem that we are dealing with. (I also suffered depression long before I was aware that my father had taken his own life - I was an adult when I found out. I also had some very traumatic situations that could have effected me. Do I make any sence?? I feel I have been peddling all my life - that I am an extremely poor role model (for having fun - for taking on personal responsibities - and yet I take on sooo very many). I am running out of pavement at my age and I would like to leave a positive legacy for my children and improve my quality of life and that of my husband's. Does anyone see themselves in the above? Can we talk? I won't review this posting or I will delete. Hope someone knows what I am saying.

Y-claire I know what you mean about trying different plans and them not panning out. I come up with plans, ideas, and I start to work on them, and something external happens (like I got summoned for jury duty!) that throws my emotions for a loop and my good intentions get torn to shreds. (It was suggested that I might not be fit for jury duty because of this illness, and that caught me by surprise - took me a while to work that one through.) I don't like surprises. The only way I know how to behave is if I have a prewritten script in my head. If something happens that I don't expect, I don't know how to react, so I freeze, retreat or freak out. All bad options. I have a genetic history of emotional illnesses as well. But we have so many more tools at our disposal than previous generations. So many more types of baby steps to try. More and more people are talking about this illness, and shaking off the shrouds surrounding it. It just takes patience and finding the right steps. (I feel like I'm giving myself a pep-talk ... maybe that's a baby step!) One, two, buckle my shoe..... Suzy

Y-claire, where are you? You have lots to say and I want to hear more from you. Patrick

Members, We are here to support and share. By sharing, we can learn from one another and perhaps take what we need to push us forward. Continue to work through the program and with your doctor or therapist as they can both be of great assistance to you. As moderators we are unable to give medical advice and are not trained to deal with thoughts of suicide. Please continue to share you success' and concerns with us and let us guide you through :) Josie, Support Specialist

Dear Ms Eclair Did you specialise in Anglo-Saxon at the university?? Welcome to my line of sight and I'd like to introduce you to Mona and Twister and Jeremy who were kind enough to write a note for me when I opened my Clam Shell a few days ago. I also forgot to drop in a word or two about my etiology and YES, my maternal grandfather and mother were both depressives, undiagnosed and untreated, my mother also was a depressive and was haphazardly treated by a chemist pal down the road (we called pharmacists 'chemists' where I came from...) ALL, all of the above had raging tempers and cycled between generalised sadness and towering rage but without falling off into psychosis. I'm not much different - I have the greatest difficulty remaining calm in the face of the slightest frustration (and, no, my zen inner babblings don't help for more than the first 20 seconds of the rising tide of screaming anguish...). And, no, I am not physically violent - never have been - not even as a full-blown working alcoholic ( 15 yrs sober now) nor as a drug snaffling moron ( sober and clean for 10 yrs now). I hope I can go on speaking like this and hear others speak up too on this site. I need to know that there are caring people out there who want to communicate and want to help themselves. Patrick

Y-claire, Welcome! We certainly hope we can be of help to you along your journey! We encourage you to begin working through the program and reading through past/present discussions. If you have any questions or are struggling, just post. We are more than happy to help! Danielle, Bilingual Support Specialist