do you feel it is empowering when you do things like talk to your doctor a little bit about your depression, and even look for more ways to help your depression?

right now my depression is at the lowest it has ever been, even lower than last year when i was sent to the hospital psych unit. usually i just sit back and let the depression take hold and hope i hang on for the ride. in the last few weeks, i have actively pursued battling my depression. i found this site, i'm searching for a local support group, and i've decided to find a new psychiatrist. i'm starting to realize these steps are helping me feel better, if only just a tad better, but at this point i'll take what i can get. i'm starting to feel empowered over my depression instead of feeling powerless.

i agree with you about the government needing to get more involved with mental illnesses. more awareness and knowledge means more acceptance.

last month i read in an article that more military service men/women have committed suicide since coming back from the war in iraq than have been killed in iraq because of the war. they are committing suicide because of depression and ptsd. i know the government is doing better now than they have in the past, but that is completely unacceptable.

i was in the marine corps and served six months in saudi arabia during the first gulf war. only in the last few years has the effects of this gone down for me. since i'm a female, i wasn't involved in the direct fighting, but was one mile from the front line. i can only imagine the devastating aftermath of living with yourself after having to kill someone. i definitely do not feel the government has dealt with the mental illnesses caused due to fighting in a war. my heart goes out to these military servicemembers!