'it' meaning depression and all the bad stuff that comes with it !!

Is fully embracing it and caring about it the answer to it getting better and, hopefully, going away ?

In the past I knew it was there but just 'sat in it' - I did not understand it, I just reacted to life without trying to understand and change myself. I then grew to believe that with hard work on myself and understanding of theories about it, that I could grow past it - I found hope ! Maybe I could be 'normal' at last. I was on my way !
Last January I had a much hoped for operation on my sinuses. I had a tooth removed 3 weeks later - I only did this so close together because I had a dream holiday to L.A. booked in March. The tooth thing was horrific and that night as the numbness wore off, the pain sent me into shock and since then life turned upside down.
I was declared physically and mentally unfit to travel, I had a kind of breakdown I suppose. I thought I had suffered before with my mind but this was something else. I became almost non-existent. I would like to go on, but don't want to be seen as moaning or complaining.
Cut to where I am at now - trying to make sense of it all and learning some home truths about myself. I know I need to change the way I am in order to cope with my changed life. I have no control over the physical stuff ( exhastion, permanent head and neck aches ) or the mind stuff - it is scary. I have lost so much that ppl take for granted - my job, my counselling work, my social life, my dancing, my ability to be of use to anyone, and lastly, my dream holiday ( I've never been to USA before ).
So, before I get down in that doom and gloom, I have eternal hope and I don't get bored easily ! I love my cats, my home, my music and last, but not least ( ! ) my partner...... oh, and I love doing this as well

Thanks for listening to some of my story, and I'd like to hear how you make sense of depression, everything helps !
Look after yourselves, Poppet