h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Your writing is so much like the experiences I have been through. When my first daughter was born I developed post natal depression, and at nights when she wouldn't stop crying I used to shake her and shout at her till my husband used to take her from me. I was on tablets for a while, but stopped taking them, as I was convinced they didn't do me any good. Had a second daughter a couple of years later, and wasn't quite so bad. Its the not being able to explain what is wrong that is hardest. I moved about 2oo miles from my family, and one day I phoned my elder sister and just cried for an hour, we hardly said anything.
My first daughter is now 26 and has been diagnosed as having depression.
I still get a bit depressed occassionaly, it seems to go with the monthly hormone thing. I do know that when I stopped taking the pill, my mood changed. I regret taking the pill, as it robbed me of many years of my childrens lives, when I couldn't be bothered to do anything, I still have days when I can't be bothered to even cook for myself.
Today was a bad day, I couldn't get myself in control, and cried at work, and everyone said its not like you, but there are two me's, the cheerful one that everyone sees and the sad one that is kept private.
That's how hard I find it to explain what's wrong.
Good luck, and keep cheerful as much as you can

Well said.
I have suffered from depression since I was 18. I am now 25.
You put on this front at work and when you go out )if you go out at all), but sometimes, all you want to do is cry. Tell someone what is happening inside your head. But like you say, how do we get it across without sounding completely insane?
I have friends who know I suffer depression but do not know how I suffer or what it actaully means to me as an individual.
I find the only people that truly understand you are people whoi suffer or who have suffered them selves.

Take care

Amanda