Quote Originally Posted by moosmom
People who don't have depression, don't understand that it's not as simple as "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and getting over it". I only WISH it were that easy.
That is so true. My sister and I are total opposites. She thinks you can just think positive and that will get you through things. She doesn't see the chemical imbalance side that will throw your positive thinking out the window in 2 seconds! But I don't totally blame her....she has never had one depressive or negative thought in her life and can't even imagine such things.

My mother has suffered from severe panic attacks and depression since the age of 13. They had her on every major pill known to man and nothing seemed to work. Then, at the age of 60 she was placed on Paxil and it worked for her. Currently, she was able to go off Paxil and for the first time in her life she has 'freedom'. I'm not sure if it's her age or what happened but my mother finally has a normal life. I really feel sorry for her since her whole life was taken from her because of the panic and depression. She didn't have a career, would rarely leave the house and basically lived a sheltered life not of her choosing. Now she has the freedom she never had...all bittersweet at the same time.

I would totally recommend seeing a doctor to prescribe not only pills but therapy sessions as well. The pills can only go so far since you also have to learn techniques to control various emotions and situations. You don't want to depend on a drug alone since that drug is only one part of the cure.