Thanks for the encouragement and I'm glad to hear that the site has been helping you. Look forward to chatting with you on line.
I didn't say much about my personal situation in the introduction - I'm a woman, 40, living in London and recently separated from my husband.
My family do know that "i get depressed" but I don't think they really understand. My parents are elderly and I don't feel I can burden then with my problems any longer, so when I speak to them I tend to just say "i'm fine, I'm fine" and then burst into tears as soon as I get out the door.
The sun is shining in London today so I'm forcing myself out the door for a walk now.