A year and a half ago, I was where you are right now: depressed, frightened, nervous, and anticipating my first visit to a psychiatrist---half-afraid he'd diagnose me as bipolar, and half-afraid he wouldn't.

All I can tell you is, it DOES get better. It takes awhile, because you've usually got to go through trials of different medications to get to the right combination in the right amounts. You'll also need therapy that will help you learn to replace unhealthy thinking patterns with more positive ones. But one day you'll look around you and see how much your life has improved, and you'll realize that you're not sick anymore.

Trust me, this too shall pass. It always does, even though it might not feel like it right now. Hang in there, and keep posting---this is an excellent support system and best of all, it's FREE!