I've been glancing through these and been on a mental roller coaster ride trying to navigate through the various memories of family members being entirely unable to comprehend what depression is and what not to say. I have noticed something though. When I think back on my immediate family and about what they've done or said relating to my depression, I am pleasantly surprised.

My father, when I was a teen, was the first one to see any signs of depression. He told me flat out that he was starting to think I had depression, and then called my mother a state over to inform her. At the time I just dismissed him, but it turned out he was right.

Over the years my father, mother, and step-father have been the most supportive of me. Granted they don't always understand the things I am going through, and sometimes they didn't say things that were helpful at all, but they did support me and they did take me to several different psychiatrists and psychologists. They recognized that even though they didn't understand everything that was happening with me and that sometimes they said things that were not helpful in the least, that I needed help and they sought out that help from someone who could.

Overall I would have to say that I am insanely glad to have had the parents I did. They've helped and they've hindered, but I can honestly say that without their help, I would be a completely different person today.

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I want to hear your stories. I want you to dig back in the recesses of your mind and locate that one person, or small group of people, who really tried to help even if they didn't understand it all too well.