Depression Part 3 (Page 2)

I'm sorry, what exactly are you basing your diagnosis of clinical depression on? From what I recall, the OP was just fine until he had to move to a different state. (OP, please correct me if I'm wrong.) His recovery began as soon as he left and started hanging out with his friends going out to football games, ect. In fact, I believe his break through moment occurred one night at a Blues club...Without knowing anything besides what is being offered here, it sounds more like the lifestyle that he was leading was bumming him out and he needed to go out and live the life he had prior to starting a family. For what it's worth, I have dealt with people who are depressed. And let me tell you, moving to a different state and kickin it with your boys does not lead to emotional and mental breakthroughs.

I don't know the OP enough to call him selfish either...But I certainly don't know him enough to call him clinically depressed.

Besides, if you go into an internet forum and ask opinions on very sensitive issues like the one that has been presented, you shouldn't be shocked by the responses...

I would like to thank all of you for your posts.  When dealing with a subject such as this, people speak from the heart and I understand that even if they don't know my full story.  And how could you after only reading a few posts from me.  I opened up my self to this forum and accept all the opinions that are shared.  I am not defensive about someones stance and can only offer my story. 

I do want you to know a couple more things about me.  I have been seeing a doctor for quite some time and have been on medication just as long.  I do not like that I have to take medication but it does help many of the symptoms of depression and my anxiety.  

The other thing, just so you know is that I have never been to a blues club before in my life, and have never been to an NFL game or anything like that.  That was simply my friends trying their best to get me out and help me out of my depression and to show me a good time.  As for fly fishing, I did go to the Green River, but went there by myself so I could think.  Fly fishing for me is very meditative and allows my mind to relax and helps me to focus my thoughts and to think more clearly.  After I left the river that day, I was emotionally much stronger, and was doing much better than I had been in quite a long time.  

Again, thank you for your thoughts and I am working on being in a better place.  Mentally I mean.  

I am not a psychiatrist and therefore can't diagnose someone as "clinically" depressed.   It was a conclusion I drew based on his description of events.  

Clinical or not - depression is not an easy thing to deal with and I stand by what I said.  To me, it sounds like more than "the lifestyle that he was leading was bumming him out and he needed to go out and live the life he had prior to starting a family."

I do agree that recovering from depression is not as easy as "moving to a different state and kickin it with your boys" though I would guess there was a lot more to getting from point A to point B than the OP shared with us.  Maybe even things he doesn't understand himself at this point.  A year from now he may look back on it and realize this point.

"Besides, if you go into an internet forum and ask opinions on very sensitive issues like the one that has been presented, you shouldn't be shocked by the responses..." - I don't know if he was shocked by the responses...I know I was.  It was amazing to me how quickly the "you are being selfish" attitude popped out.  Not knocking anyone for their opinion - it's just my opinion and I personally was shocked.  I respect some of those that said that about the OP..it wasn't an attack on anyone.  

I feel selfish for feeling like he was feeling selfish for feeling the way he felt about his feelings.