Mountainbird, my depression lasts a long time too, and I completely get what you're saying. This last round is now going on over a year, during which time my therapist moved and I thought I would never again go that route. I've never been able to hang onto friends for the same reason you shared, but I have been beyond fortunate to have one that surfaced and hung in there during this bad patch. Having a real life anchor is helping me to reach out to these other supports. I never had that before, or wasn't able to see it if it was there.

Bluebird, my friend suggested group therapy to me, but all I can think of is that I would be sitting around with a lot of depressed people like myself. Why kind of group do you go to, if you don't mind sharing?