"Having needs" is NOT needy. All human beings have needs, not only food and air, but emotional needs, contact with others, conversation, etc. We would wither and suffer without those emotional needs being met as sure as we would wither without water. It is what being "human" means.

When we suffer from depression it becomes more accutely aware to us when are emotional needs aren't being met. We also tend to withdraw and isolate ourselves, cutting ourself off even more from any resources.

That is one of the main reasons that this place exists. We can feel free to talk about our emotional needs without fear of mistunderstanding (by people who do not understand the nature of depression).

It is also one of the reasons I find that this community fits my needs much more than other support communities on the web... here people are encouraged to express their needs directly. Some of my favorite posts are when people just post that they need some confirmation of friendship, or to growl, or a hug... It shows that people are recognizing their own needs and are feeling the confidence and strength to understand them and express them... and I believe that is an important step in recovery for the issues of depression, as well as helping the person get the direct support they need at the moment.

So Yack, do NOT label yourself as "needy", but rather I believe you should chalk it up as a "positive" that you are able to recognize when you need something and are able to go after support for it. That is what we are here for.