• I found that medication didn't help, in fact at times it exacerbated certain urges to the extent that I realised it was dangerous to stay on it.
• I have had 2 or 3 years of therapy with a psychotherapist, a clinical psychologist and in a group setting. Whilst the sessions themselves were a useful sounding board, I ended up feeling as if I was going in circles. This, I think, is partly due to the fact that the people I saw were strong CBT proponents. I've already mentioned the difficulties I have with the models and concepts upon which CBT is built, so I won't reiterate here. Also, I found myself fixating on, and rehearsing for, my next therapy session - deciding how I would portray myself this time. I realised this was in some ways dishonest and a bit an ego trip.  I was just using the therapist's attention to make myself feel important. Therefore, I've discontinued the therapy.

So I feel as if I've all but exhausted the options available to me, and it's down to me to draw on my own resources to pull myself together and find a way to feel that life is not empty, tedious and futile. I have a supportive family, which helps, though we never talk about my depression. I have no friends, but I don't really want any.

Members,

MDD is a serious problem. The good news is that there are many effective treatments available. In fact, over 80 % of people with MDD are eventually able to manage their depression with proper therapy or a combination of therapies. Many feel much better just weeks after starting treatment.

While bipolar disorder is a chronic illness that currently has no cure, staying on treatment, even during well times, can help keep the disease under control and reduce the chance of having recurrent, worsening episodes.

Do not let these or any other reasons stop you from getting the right kind of treatment. If you have MDD, it's very important to get help, just like you would for any serious medical illness. For example, most diabetics will do what they can to get proper medication and make required changes to their diet and lifestyle. Most people with heart problems do the same. MDD is just as serious as diabetes or heart problems, so you should do everything you can to get medical help.

Don't be discouraged from getting help by anyone who says, "It's nothing to worry about," "It's just stress," "It's all in your head," "Snap out of it," or "Get over it." While the person may mean well, the fact is that people who have not had depression often have trouble understanding how serious the problem is.

• People manage to convince themselves that their depression isn't serious
• People think that their depression is their "personality"
• People often feel embarrassed about talking about depression and anxiety
• People often blame themselves for their problems
• Others dislike the idea of medication or therapy
• People often say that they've sought help but are frustrated because their condition was not diagnosed or treated effectively
• Do not confuse your depression with your personality. You're not a "miserable person" - you're a person with MDD, and help is available.