I've struggled with depression for more years than I care to count. I started feeling depressed as a teenager and my mother assured me it was "just a teen thing, you'll grow out of it." We both realized that wasn't the case within a couple years. We never really called it depression, just that I was "down." Well, I get "down" far more often than the people closest to me - and that's not many people - know. Most of the time I can put on a show and passers-by can never tell anything is wrong. But for months now, I've had this horrible feeling of drowning - just sinking underneath everything and nothing at the same time. Does that even make sense? There's rarely a specific reason for my down spells, usually I just feel like curling up in a ball and disappearing.

After more than 15 years of coping on my own, I think I need someone to talk to. Not about anything particular - just someone who will listen should I get the nerve to talk more. Hoping I can find that here.