Wow, okay. I know people who've had that experience. With me, I can look back now and see some signs starting in my early 20s, but I basically "got sick" with a severe episode of depression when I was 25. It was almost as sudden as catching a virus.

Yes, I've had doctors and one psychiatrist say that depression and autoimmune disorders are very highly correlated and that it's not uncommon for the depression to show up first.

There's some mild anxiety on both sides of my family, but it's more the kind that responds to "exposure therapy" - I put that in quotes, because it seems like a fancy name for just doing what makes you anxious until it doesn't bother you anymore.

My doctor tweaks my meds from time to time, but by this point in my life, I've suffered career and relationship loss and income loss and loss of the ability to do most of the hobbies I used to do, so I have strong reasons for having situational depression and "adjustment disorder" now.

I feel like my depression is both biochemical and attitudinal now. I do think the biochemical element leads, though. If my meds aren't working at least halfway decently, it doesn't seem to matter how much therapy I go to. I get to the "I don't care" and "I'm too tired" stage.