I didn’t know that what I was experiencing was called depression until I was in my early forties, although with the benefit of hindsight I have come to realize that I have been dealing with it for almost my entire life. I know that many life experiences have contributed to it, augmented by the fact that biology laid the groundwork for its development over the years. I obtained this insight from my psychiatrist, who I’ve been seeing for almost 20 years.
Depression has diminished my sense of myself to the point where I became over reliant on the attitudes of others. I have made life choices, ill-considered though they were, that allowed me to feel some degree of safety. Nevertheless, feelings of sadness, inadequacy, and pessimism about life have endured.
Thanks to my psychiatrist, I have learned to deal with these feelings through therapy and medication. Also, my regimen of 200 mg/day of Zoloft has been beneficial in addressing the organic causes of my distress.
I am grateful for Anxiety and Depression Association of America and other online sources for providing me the opportunity to share my feelings. I look forward to continuing to read about the experiences of other sufferers of depression and continuing my personal story.
Introduction
New to the Community
New to the group. 
The new kid on the block
Flashbacks to childhood abuse
