I'm super fortunate that I've had several very supportive people in my life. My brother is a rock. I share my deepest and some of my darkest thoughts with him and he doesn't judge. He listens and brainstorms ideas with me and is always available.

My Mom and Dad are also strong supports. I'm still sad that my Mom, who in my estimation lived forty years deeply depressed following domestic abuse as a child, and I cannot talk more openly about our shared symptoms. But she wants to be my Mom, so I do my best to let her support me when I'm in need. My Dad, well, he has learned not to judge and just sit with me if that's what I need.

My best friend also suffers from depression, so we sort of talk about our symptoms a lot and often laugh about it, sort of make fun of ourselves, but only when it's not raw. I don't really do that with anybody else. One of my exes, the one I was with when I first got severely depressed and whose heart I tore into hundreds of pieces (can you hear that guilt!), is now one of my besties and I can talk with her openly about my depression, because she has seen me at my absolute worst more than anybody else. I can't believe we're friends, but at the same time, it's just so lovely it brings tears to my eyes that she continues to stick by me. She has found a man who she totally loves and I'm really happy for her. I have another good friend who also suffers from depression and has lost a brother to it as well, and she is super supportive. Unfortunately, all of these people live elsewhere, which adds to the feelings of isolation I sometimes feel.

Thanks for starting this thread, it's nice to write out my support network.

RJ