Online support for depression?

[Pool Hall Ace]

Hello everyone,

I am no stranger to depression. I was diagnosed at the age of 19, but have been experiencing symptoms since childhood. Currently, I am not on any medication, but am seeing a doctor next week.

I was curious about online chat/discussion groups for those with depression. A Google search uncovered quite a few; I didn't realize how many are out there! Do you participate in any? And do you have a favorite?

Thanks . . .

[Neoma]

1. I'm doing too good lately.

Don't know of any online chat rooms...

But anyways, yeah. I've been okay, and it took work, but now it comes down to how I don't know if I fit in with the depressed crowd. Even though the personality that came with the depression is still there. Like reading morbid books and being seclusive at the wrong times. Meh.

A chat room would be interesting, but I would be worried about trolls.

[fizzgig]

2. i've gotten everything i need from this group

sorry i couldn't be of more help. good luck with the doc.

[BainsBane]

3. I also would be interested in recommendations.

I've search on Google and found references, but I can't speak to their quality. I'd also appreciate if anyone knows of a good one.

[hunter]

4. My depression comes with an extra large helping of paranoia...

... I didn't find an internet group I felt safe enough in to sign onto.

My last big slide into the darkness my doctor prescribed some heavy duty meds, and he and my wife dragged me in to see a therapist.

That was expensive. I was fairly alarmed about the price and my therapist did know of some non-profit groups which I visited, but I ended up sticking with the paid therapy with individual meetings at first, then individual meetings and group therapy, and then just the group therapy. The non profits were run a lot like I imagine AA meetings are held. The place is provided by a non profit. The two meetings I sampled were held in churches, but explicitly non-religious. They weren't nearly as directed as meetings with my therapist, but not disorganized either, and worthwhile just because getting out may help with depression.

When I'm depressed it's entirely chemical. When my meds work, they work, even if I complain about side effects. But I often dig some deep muddy holes when I'm in the dark place and therapy helps me climb back out and clean up the mess.

Good luck! If you go on meds, some of them don't work right away. But if they start to make you feel worse, that's not good. Funny thing about meds is that one of my siblings has the same symptoms I do but meds that work for him make me feel worse, and vice-versa.