Hi Leora, and welcome to PsychCentral.

This is a comfortable place once you get to know it, so feel free to start here in whatever way is most comfortable. You can "spill all" if you want to do so, people here don't judge and we understand. Some people are more comfortable posting just a little at a time, to get their feet wet. Some just like to read other posts for a while until they feel comfortable talking. And others like to start by responding to other posts before they start to talk about themselves.

There is no right or wrong way to get started, the only thing that is 100% right is the fact that you came looking for help.

With regard to your depression, you mentioned that you cut yourself off from your family. Depression makes us isolate ourselves and that could be a bad thing. But it depends on the situation. Is your family toxic to your mental health? If so, that might have been the right thing to do. (I have done the same with my father). If you are cut off because of the isolation of depression it might help to try to reestablish contact with them... depending on how responsive they are, if they understand the illness, etc.

In any case, good luck, glad to see you here!