I am 'mentally ill'.

[vlyons]

9. I also have suffered from depression

For years, I self-medicated with booze, which made it worse actually. I was a functioning alcoholic. As soon as I got home from work, into the kitchen for the first on many highballs in a giant iced tea glass. Now I don't drink booze. I don't like the way it makes me feel.

Depression is a tough nut to crack. There is help out there, assuming you have health insurance that covers mental wellness. Depression is a physical ailment, not just a mental ailment. Diet, exercise, and plenty of water throughout the day can help, provided one is not so far down the black hole that getting out of bed, off the couch, etc. becomes almost impossible. Any depressed person who manages the struggle to achieve some mental wellness is really very courageous. If you are depressed, or know someone who is, please please continually reinforce the idea that you, or they, are SOMEBODY. Somebody who counts, somebody with value, somebody who actually adds value.

A sense of worthlessness, loneliness, and helplessness was at the root of much of my depression. Plus I grew up in a dysfunctional family with parents, who had piss poor social skills. No one taught me how to make friends. Indeed I was taught that Mother was my only real friend and distrust everyone else. How sick is that? I realize now that she was probably very depressed also.

I'm ok now. I know that I am somebody. I'm not afraid of failure. Failure is an honored teacher.