hi im new

i have just been diagnosed with depression , i didnt know this exsisted , i am totally freaking out i always thought these feelings i have was just me the type of person i am but now i think this is the illness , i am on medication i dont know where is the real me and who is the depression will i be like this forever is this me for life ? what causes depression ? is depression another word for crazy ? any advice for my partner how to cope with me and my illness ? any help much appreciated please

well you could look at the fact that now you've been diagnosed as a possitive.
now you know that you can get better.
and NO your not crazy.
i would say for your partner too just be patient.

Hi hun, please let your partner know we have a supporting partners forum. I don't , (well not often), suffer from depression, but I did live with someone who did, and I learn't alot, happy to give some support. Take care and no you are not at all crazy. Hugs.

"In Hollywood, you're crazy NOT to have a psychiatrist" - author unknown.

I agree with Mere.Kat, don't think of this as being made aware of something wrong with you, think of it as a positive step where you now have a label for the way you have been feeling and now have a lot of resources to help you feel better.

You are not crazy and you are definitely not alone. 1 in 5 New Zealanders have a mental illness. The good news is that there are places like this to help

Thank you all for your kind words im glad i found this place and you people who understand what this is , i always thought i was just wierd and too sensitive i think back and realise i have been like this for as long as i can remember i like how you say this is a positive thing i wonder who the real me is i dont remember and thank you for advice for my partner wow you guys are great am gettn such nice vibes from your words

Hi there Ragamuffin, welcome to the depression club. Not a lot of fun to have but heaps of support on here.

hahaha bluebird i like the way you said that thank you

Hi raggamuffin, nice name by the way! hehe.

Being diagnosed isnt a bad thing, i found it as a relief as i was struggling on my own to make sense of why i am the way i am and why i feel the way i do. Its a huge thing to deal with and its just as hard for our partners too. Peterpam is right the parents page is great and she is wonderful ive learnt alot from her posts! ONe thing ive realised with my partner is that he will never fully understand what its like for me but he does try, and i do try too so we have had to meet each other on common ground and we both end up just saying man this sux and we then laugh! Ok probably totally irrelevant and off topic but anyhow welcome and hope you do enjoy visiting this site!

Hi raggamuffin

Hope to see you on the chat room soon!

Hi claire sky i like your name also thank you for your ten cents as they say hee hee but yes sounds like you and your partner have a good thing going lucky for you both thank you for the welcome

Hi my life hopefully soon hee hee ima bit shy just hanging in here with the ladys first

ok ....sheesh, will you guys stop calling me a lady.... I'm not used to that!!

Hi raggamuffin,
i m on day 8 of being diagnosed with PND and at the moment Im looking at it as being positive that it has finally been recognised. Now I can take steps forward to getting on with the future rather than dwelling on the negatives. Im on meds and I know it will take at least a year or more but Im feeling confident....for now, anyway. Always here if you wanna chat, Im new here too.

Hi Floss
thank you for your words its nice to know there is another newbie yes i think i am about 8 days also ummm what is pnd ?

Hi Raggamuffin..

Nice to see your posts.. and to chat with you on TM a few nights ago..

PND is post-natal depression.. not fun to have when caring for a wee Babe..

Take care..