Deb, I'm sorry to hear this. I also suffer from depression, though the doctors do not know what to diagnose me as since I have so many different problems (borderline personality is most likely in my case). I have been through almost everything (meds, hospitals, counselling, psychotic episodes, being suicidal, etc), and learnt to understand it and accept it, so if you need to talk to anyone or need to understand anything better, I will always be there for you.

A product that I recently started is called Truehope EMPower Plus . It's alternative, but the research results are quite amazing as well as the success stories. I am on the message board on their website and alot of people have vastly improved since starting it. The website also has your own information, charts, etc.

I was on Effexor XR for 10 months and I do not recommend it. Effexor withdrawal acts quickly and is horrible to experience. Coming off my meds was excruciating -- I stopped taking Effexor in September and I still have the "brain shivers" associated with Effexor withdrawal -- I will have them for life.

Good luck with everything, I'm here if you need to talk! My worst year was last year, when I was 18. Those last few years of teenagehood can be tough.