Debbie - good thread.
There are many people slightly thrown by depressive illness and to get things 'out' in the open certainly does no harm.
I'm lucky I've never had any doctor try to shut me up (!) with tablets. But that is a problem for many people - getting the right doctor for them.
I was lucky my GP knew there was something wrong - and even though I argued I wasn't depressed he didn't quit on me and finally I agreed to see a psychiatrist, who to this day I bless, he took me into a private care centre and I was treated with Prozax initially, saw counsellours and talked endlessly - I cried many tears - and laughed too.
I was together with a wonderful group of people and the help we gave each other was priceless - to this day I've not forgotten the love, care and kindness of other depressives.
Yes I still get bad times - hence my disappearance after New Year - but as long as I keep on my present medication - Citalopram - I will come out of the endless black tunnel and carry on - perhaps and hopefully a little wiser and definately grateful.

Lynne