Hi everyone! I haven't posted in a long time, and this is mostly due to being in treatment and working again. I am very happy to say that I am doing so much better, and am almost 100% back to my daily activities. I have been working for a month and a half now, and it has been a tremendous help. I drive for Uber so I meet a lot of different people who I engage conversations with. I have been taking my medicine religiously, and going to therapy every week. I love my therapist, she is like family to me. She is very easy to talk to, and I have learned a lot of things about myself. I've learned that I do have the genetic marker for depression and I also have the alcoholic genetic marker. I mostly get it from my father, who because of my depression and seeking counsel, we learned that my father not only has had depression his whole life and this is why he struggled with drugs and alcohol, but also that he may have bipolar disorder. I have also learned that I have high-functioning anxiety, and because of this high-functionality I have, intellectually, I have been able to control my alcoholic tendencies. I have decided to just stay away from alcohol anyways, because I do not want to become an alcoholic and dive into deep depression again. Unfortunately, I have to take medicine indefinitely, but at least I know that I should not have another major episode again. I will continue going to therapy since there is a lot that I was under-diagnosed for, and work on my coping skills with stress and change. I am returning back to school this Fall, and my advisors and professors have been a huge support. They are working with me to try to salvage the work I did before I took a medical withdraw, and are working with me to finish my senior year.
I wanted to write to you all today, to not only update you on my progress in treatment, but to also encourage those who are still dealing with depression, that this will pass and you will get better. The only way you will get better though, is if you actually seek help and are getting the right help you need. Please don't feel ashamed or embarrassed about what you feel. This is a serious medical condition. If it gives you some encouragement, read my earlier posts and then compare it to this post. You can see how severe my depression was, and how well I am doing today.
Thank you to all of this who helped me along the way. I will check in regularly with everyone. Hope everyone is doing well and staying strong.
Advice and sympathy are great but... not enough.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 
I’ve gotten some great advice
The Great Divide 
Feeling a little better now
