I have not been posting much lately. I have just come out of a two to three year mean depression. Depression is like being in a black hole. Seriously, I feel like I lost 2 years of my life.

I am trying to think if I have learned anything from it. Especially anything I can pass on to anyone else that would be helpful. If I have learned anything it is that if you feel you are suffering depression you need to get help. It is not always easy or affordable to get help and that is something all places need to work on. Treatment is important.

Don't ever suffer in silence or think you are the only one suffering this affliction. When I joined this site I was surprised how many people were dealing with the same things I was. I also met many beautiful, friendly, helpful, and supportive people here. In a way my friends here saved my life when I felt I was at my worst.

Don't stay or feel locked in a hopeless situation. Much of the source of my depression came from a miserable job situation. I did not think I could leave or do anything different. I tried to force the situation to work, but you can't force people to change.

Prayer and faith also helped me immensely.

I now work a lower paying job that I like and where all the people are kind and good hearted. I am going to school studying accounting. Overall life is so much better.

However, I still look back and shudder at what I went through. In my sleep I am having nightmares. Usually in the nightmare I am trying to do a nursing job and I am inept and don't know what I am supposed to do. Then I am nervous and frightened. I don't know why I keep having these nightmares. I don't know if there is some unresolved issue I need to deal with.