Hello,
I'm new here and am hoping to nip despression in the butt just like I did those darn cigarettes. I have had a couple of serious bouts of depression where I landed on the couch for months of sleep and whatever.. since all I really remember is sleeping. It has been years since that happened, but since then I struggle with periods where I go through the motions, but feel nothing. I am succussful at my job, but at this point I don't have any close friends. As a child I suffered both physical and sexual abuse from family members. I also witnessed a great deal of both and felt that everyone else got it worse than I did. I felt really guilty about that for years, but the guilt is less now. The whole experience generally makes me feel like damanged goods, even through I am a pretty succesful woman. I was married once for about a year, long enough to have my most wonderful blessing, my 16 year old son. My sister is a full blown bipolar. My experience with growing up with her hosptializations and suicide attempts have left me pretty afraid of medication. I'm hoping to slay my dragon without the use of medication unless I get so depressed that I land on the couch again. I think I've learned how to keep myself from landing there again, but I have not figured out how to stay engaged in my life. I spend a lot of time just going through the motions. The times that I actually enjoy life are so great, but so short. I'm anxious to seeif this will help, but worried that my energy level is so low right now. We'll see. I look forward to getting to know all of you.