Very interesting question! Let me try to answer each piece in a complete way.

How would you rate your quality of life- from 1 to 10?
I'd give it about a 7 right now (things have been going great and my mood drastically increased about a week ago), but in general maybe a 4-- I'm not being fulfilled because I don't have the energy to do anything. I don't have a job right now and I don't feel like I contribute to anything anymore. I have lost a lot pleasure in things I used to enjoy, but I still try to find the fun in them (as in I still do them from time to time if I can manage to get out of bed).

Are you happy?
Currently? Yes. I feel good. I feel real good. Nothing in my life has changed, except my mood and I'm so happy about it.

Have you been able to do all the things you want to do?
This is an interesting question because when I'm depressed -- there isn't anything I want to do but sleep or eat. So, in those moments.. I'm doing all I want. But in a general sense, no. I still am not living to my potential which is something I want to do. I want to be active, I want to feel that I add something to the world.

Do you think you'll be able to do whatever you want to in the future?
I have hope that I will. Like I said, right now I feel really good and I'm hopeful for the future.

How much do your symptoms impact you?
The depression is debilitating. I honestly live most of my life (since I can remember) in a depression. Chronic depression's wear and tear is the worst. The absolute worst. I've been diagnosed as Bipolar II, so hypomania for me is impactful as well. I have trouble staying on one topic or focusing, but I feel good and have energy to get things done if I really want to. I would almost call hypomania a positive (definitely compared to depression) but of course it also manifests some irritability and problems with overwhelming myself with ideas, projects, and that sort of thing.

What brings you down the most and what makes you feel best?
I've never really thought about this before, but it's a very good reflective question. What brings me down the most is financial troubles. Constant debt and the feeling you're drowning and can't get out of it, coupled with depression and all the other stresses in life, it's a killer.

What makes me feel the best is when I can laugh with friends and family and be social. I really enjoy laughing and making others laugh. It's wholesome, rewarding, and fun for me.

I hope I answered your question. I know I was a little long winded and thought about deleting this post.. but I'll keep it anyway. Thanks for the chance to be introspective! I really enjoyed the questions.

Brentus, I can relate to a lot of what you wrote.

How would you rate your quality of life- from 1 to 10?
I guess 7, even though I'm still on disability. I know it could be better in many ways, but I see myself as extremely lucky with what I have. I try to see the best in what I have. Times have been far worse for me. I see myself as on the horizon of positive change. I'm a half glass full kind of gal. I hope I will always be.

Are you happy?
To a large degree, yes, but I have periods when I'm extremely happy and times when I really struggle. Struggling is painful, but struggles always ease.

Have you been able to do all the things you want to do?
You know, I feel I've done a lot more than most people in terms of things that I value. But did I want a lot more? Yes. I wish I had reached even higher goals. Perhaps I still can, but I've had to readjust the goals in certain ways. I would like to become more productive to make both my husband's and my life easier and more secure again. A lot of people in this world usually say they have not done all that they would do, though some do. I hope to be in the latter category in time.

So do you think youll be able to do whatever you want to in the future?
Whatever I want? Perhaps not. But I'll do some of what I want. I'll do some things I didn't expect, which may be satisfying.

What brings you down the most and what makes you feel best?
Mild sedation and my inability to adequately handle stress brings me down a lot. Enough to still be disabling. The latter triggers my bipolar. My bipolar disorder's fickleness holds me back in many ways and has throughout my life. It has done so even more as I've aged.

I feel best when I concentrate on the beauties in my life, simple pleasures, and the occasional big ones.