Hi Maggie, I haven't been on here for a few days, good to hear from you, its nice to meet new people and learn different ways of dealing with things, i too, like to vent, I have an older sister and if it wasn;t for her listening to me in the past few years I never would have survived my broken marriage and depression, she kept me going by listening, and never judging me.  I also went to counselling for alot of years, so please don't feel weak by not wanting to talk out your feelings, we all need someone to confide in.  Keep in touch and keep up your wonderful work with children, I work with elderly people and its very rewarding.  Talk soon, Marlene

Hello Frenchy45 I love the doctors show Because it does provide info on some things I didn't now about and I can say I'm still learning and thats a good thing! I now that we all sometime or another fell depressed in one way or another. Some need meds or someone to talk to. I prefer venting or bending a ear. Sometimes I feel ashame of felling depressed and don't have anyone to talk to but myself and that is why I joined this site. I have a wonderful husband and family but most of the time I just can't open up my feeling to them because I don't want to seem weak. To me I rather talk to a stranger because they don't know me. I'm still learning about this site and how it works. Thanks for listening! Maggie

Frenchy Thank you for the email so glad you are doing well.Keep up the good work and keep me posted on how you are doing.

Smile

Sheilah

THANK U SO MUCH.YOU KNOW I LIKE BEING AN ADDICT SOMETIMES,CAUSE WHERE ESLS CAN A PERSON FIND SO MANY FRIENDS & HAVE SO MUCH N COMMON,AND NOT KNOW ANY 1,THAN U CAN @ AN AA MEET-N.IT IS SO AWSOME 2 HAVE SO MANY FRIENDS WHO REALLY DO CARE ABOUT UR WELL BE-N.

Hi My name is Margaret I'm 39 years old, I have a sixteen year old daughter and we live in New Mexico land of enchantment. We are finally starting to live our lives much better, were at peace since my son's passing and were just living one day at a time and enjoying it as best as we can.  Hope and faith will get you through any problems you may have and a lot of strength, pass it on to other's who may be in the same situation or worse, keep god in your heart and he will listen. God Bless!!!

Hi, I also have issues with alcohol and since I have been sober (Sept 29, 2007) my depression is almost non-existent.  I was hospitalized in 2006 for 2 weeks and I met a woman who was an alcoholic and she told me she couldn't get around her depression until she dealt with her alcoholism.  I also went to counselling for my addiction as well as depression for almost a year and dealt with my childhood issues very deeply.  I didn't have a terrible upbringing but my mother was very sick emotionally and not really there for us as children, and always thought there was a magic pill to fix her problems, she didn't drink but I now believe she was a pill addict.  I was put on Ativan which is a tranquilizer type drug in 2003 because of marriage issues and got hooked on that so when hospitalized came off of it and have not been on anything except my anti-depressant ever since.  If I have to be on that, to keep me as I am now, that's fine, once I get my divorce settled and my youngest who is 15 graduated, then I can move on with my life.  Keep up the good work with your sobriety don;t beat yourself up if you take something for depression for now, give yourself time but counselling or AA are wonderful programs.  Love yourself and forgive yourself and it all starts from there.  Good luck

DO U THINK ITS TRUE WE WILL HAVE 2 B ON MEDS. THE REST OF OUR LIVES 4 OUR DEPRESSION? I SOMETIMES GET DEPRESSED B CAUSE I HAVE 2 TAKE THESE MEDS. JUST 2 FEEL NORMAL.

I am a 45 year old female who has been separated for over a year.  I have 3 wonderful sons and work with the elderly.  I have learned to be at peace within myself and not to take things for granted.  I was in a very controlled marriage for 20 + years and it feels wonderful to have my own "power" back.  I battled depression for many years and finally realized that there was no magic pill or drink that could help me,  only coming to terms with my past.  I have learned to love myself for who I am and finally enjoy every moment of every day.  I love the Doctors Show and watch it daily.  I have worked as a caretaker for elderly people since I was 17 and also trained as a Medical Secretary in 2002 so the medical field has always been of interest to me.  I hope 2009 is the year for everyone to make positive changes  in your life.