> As for myself on this issue, well, I go through severe bouts of depression, and have some things which I am perpetually depressed about. However, I have never gone to seek treatment (chemical or otherwise) for it. Why? Because for myself, I see it as a crutch. Interestingly, though, I don't see it that way for others... Why the double standard? Well, I think it's because I have never been diagnosed with anything like depression, and I have a bit of a history of hypochondria... Worse, I am (sorry to be immodest) fairly smart, and learned on various biological and psychological disorders, and have a history of convincing others that I have problems which really aren't there... I worry sometimes that my "depression" might be the same, and even if I did get diagnosed with something, I could have been trying to make it look that way... I don't want to be put on a chemical treatment for something I don't really have, and that leaves me with a bit of a dilemma. I wonder, does anyone else here ever feel this way? I am curious to find out... If so, what do you do about it? My solution has generally been to try and struggle my way through it, analyze myself for signs of real problems and signs of faking it, and not bring anything to a medical professional without some certainty on my part... Goodness know, the health care system in Canada is strained enough without my hypochondria making things worse...
>
> Don "The Monkeyman" Jackson

Don you just totally described me. My father is a manic, my mother has post traumatic stress and many of my family members have been in the hospital for mental diseases so I've read up on it. Like you said, it makes you unsure if your problems are mental or just normal, and my mother is always telling me my mood swings are just hormonal because I'm a teen. I'm also incredibly hypochondriac to the point where I have kept myself up until 5 o'clock worrying about being sick. I guess it is kind of hard to tell, especially with all the horrible things which go on(and I have had enough horrible things happen to me and my family since I was eight to cause me to be depressed without a condition). However I have never seen medication as a crutch. I just never felt I was depressed enough to take medication. Depression is a serious thing, I know if anyone, and I don't want to diagnose myself with it without proof. Mental illness is bizarre...

As for dealing with it, I usually don't. I've talked to my doctor about the hypochondria but never my depression. Mostly I blame it on my trauma, which is considerable for someone my age I suppose. Plus, my mom is always telling me I'll be fine, so I have to suppose she knows what she's talking about, having been in social work most of her life and married to my dad as well. Occasionally I read to get over depression, or come on Rinkworks. Like you said, the people here are REALLY good to talk to when you're down.

To Dave, I hope you feel better. Being depressed is a horrible way to be. Se a doctor for sure. I don't know much about drugs, but I know that they always worked for my dad when he actually took them. He never saw them as a crutch either, just a nuisance...

Mel"We's all crazy on da Rinkworks"anie