I took abnormal psychology this past winter quarter. I felt like a fly on the wall as they discussed the chapter on mood disorders and suicide. It was weird. It is a disease and there are biological differences between us and normal people. On brain scans we have an abnormally sized or damaged hippocampus due to overactivation and exhaustion of the adrenal cortical system. Depression actually hurts the brain. It is a real disease with physical implications. They are now showing that meds or ECT can actually stop the degeneration of brain systems and cells, and even regrow new ones. I think I'm on a good med combo now, finally, and can feel my brain functioning better every day. So take your meds...they may prevent brain damage if they're working right.