Hello, Greenivy and welcome to the site. You're taking solid steps in the right direction when you join this site, for instance, lots of great information and great friends for us all -- and you can work the programme here at your own pace and with focus. Your behaviours will change for the better and so remove anxiety and eliminate stressors in your life... I hope you've found reasonable meds that work for you and that you've got your MB well-oiled for the Spring?? If you can bike you can run, right? That's great exercise for stress relief and there must be a running track in the local Y... Start your own thread in here. Looking forward to getting to know you more...

Green, You have come to the right place! Please feel free to roam the site at your own pace. If you look to the left of the screen under "TOOLS" you will find our Depression Test. This test is not a diagnostic tool and is not a replacement or substitute for a physician's advice. The purpose of these tests 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. If you have any question or concerns with our site or please contact us at support@depressioncenter.net. We are the Support Specialist for The Depression Center and are open to any questions or concerns you may have. Looking forward to hearing from you soon! Josie, Health Educator

Hi there folks, Thought I would also introduce myself. I am a 60 year old man who has had 2 hospitalizations due to clinical depression. I have this time sought out all the help I can find to make a better stress free and anxious free life. I came out of the hospital in mid january and came to this site shortly after that. I am hoping to change the behaviours that stand in the way of my being able to enjoy life and have fun at the same time. I trust as soon as this snow goes away to get my mountain bike out and start riding again. I also have joined the YMCA to get exercise there I know I need to lower the stress and excersise seems to work for me. Hoping this brings conversation from others that are also new to this site. Thanks, Greenivy333

JenJen, I'm new myself. Just popping in to see if the program is helping you.

Welcome JenJen, Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. We are here to help you, our members have excellent advice and we're here to provide the support that you may need to push through. Please take to time to get to know the site and to work through the work books. Wishing you all the best, Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator

JenJen, You say you have doubts about the bipolar diagnosis. Any particular reason? If it is any consolation, it took awhile before my doctors figured out that the bipolar medication was not enough, and had to be supplemented with a more specific treatment for depression and anxiety as well. I can definitely relate to the contrast you see between the good life around you and the deep struggle inside. When we try to rationalize our depression, it just doesn't make logical sense. We think we have every reason to be happy but can't square that observation with how we feel. One reason I'm drawn to programs like this is that CBT and other pro-active therapies help me work on my thinking processes, in hopes of bringing them out into the open so I can literally see what and how I'm thinking (through journaling, for example, or even posting responses and questions in these forums). For me, the challenge of depression has always been a matter of control--mostly battling the sense of helplessness--and trying to will my way out of it. Conventional wisdom says we can't will our way out of it, but I do think, perhaps in conjunction with medication and ongoing expert care, we can gain some semblance of control. At least I have to believe we can. I wish you the best and hope you find these forums useful.

Hi JenJen. I ready your introduction nodding my head throughout. This is the best my life has ever been - yep! I need instant results - Yep! I want to be happy again - Yep! Often I feel so alone and the loneliness is what drives me into the pits of dispair. I too have struggled through a lot of my life and I am a single parent trying to raise the remaining 2 of 3 children by myself with little to no support from others. It is difficult and I often feel I am failing them. I have a job that I love and I cannot afford to lose it because I am the sole provider for my family. I do however, often find myself avoiding others at work so that they cannot see my swollen eyes, or the destress that is on my face. Whenever someone asks if I'm ok I just say I'm great (screaming on the inside). The Are you sure? always makes me say yes and turn and walk away so they can't see the tears in my eyes. My boyfriend (who lives 4 hours away) says, 'Why do you do this to yourself' and all I can think of is I don't know. Anyway, the program is a good one. I have been trying to work it and it helps us know where to focus. I look forward to getting to know you and growing with you during this process.

Where do I begin. First of all I have Severe Major Depression that reoccurs. I've been depressed for many years. Though the last few it has really caught up with me. I'm not going to go on and on about all the struggles I've had with the depression. We have all been there and each of us knows what we go through. I recently spent several days in the hospital and I am trying very hard to regain my life. I am a christian, I am married and we have a blended family of 5 children. I have wonderful support around me. This is truly the best my life has ever been. Yet I find myself at rock bottom. I currently see a counselor and a psych along with my regular medical doctor. One of the main issues I recently discovered was back in April of 07 I was diagnosis with Bipolar. I had doubts as well as my counselor. So from April till now I've been treated for bipolar. I've been through medication after medication. Until the bottom dropped out recently. I didn't question switching meds so much because I had read it could take months even years to find the right combination. In the mean time I lost a job I dearly loved, isolated myself from those who love me and slowly watch my life disappear. Things in my life have always been some what difficult and I have always had the strength to pull through. I guess that is why I find it so frustrating to not have control anymore. To not be pulling through this. To be struggling everyday to exsist. I am trying new things and this is one of them. I want to regain control of my life. I WANT to be happy again and not miserable all the time. I realize no matter what I will always have bad days. But just not everyday and to the point that I just exsist. I'm hoping by tracking my moods and daily activities will help me see progress. I'm the type who needs to instand results. I know that isn't how this works. I guess I'm working on my patience too. With all this said I am always willing to listen and share my experiences with others. What I have found out recently is the best thing you can have is people who have been here done this and still working on it today. To know your not alone....I mean we all know we are not the only ones out there suffering but to actually know.