Thank you. It is really very hurtful to read the comments left by my friends saying that i did not know what depression was and saying they were offended as they have bi polar etc etc. I know they want me to respond to the comments but i wont. Tit for tat is so childish. I know they all hate me now, so the best thing i can do is walk away from them for a while and hope they will come back to me at a later date. But i do forgive them.
One positive thing i have done today is go through my online diary which i started way back in 2005. I have tagged all the entries i made when i felt depressed and the results were interesting. It seems since i started the diary online in 2005 i have had bouts of depression 2005, 2007, 2008 and they mostly start in June and last until September. That is linked to my Mother's death. I can identify a pattern there. But i have had depressive episodes going back way back to the mid 1980s. So it is not a recent thing. What i intend to do is print off the pages of my diary and show them to my counsellor when i next see her.
You are right in that people can hide depression. I have done that for many years, after all there are alot of times when i am fine and it does not show. But when i am depressed i hide it. Too well in fact.
Thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to post with advice. It is very much appreciated. I just wish i could make my online friends, two of whom i have met and had stay with me at home beleive me. But they wont. Oh well i have managed to crawl out of the maze before on my own. I guess i will have to do the same this time round.

Thanks once again to everyone. Much appreciated having someone listen when your friends turn their backs on you