As someone who has battled depression for nearly two decades, the answer is an emphatic YES, treatment is both necessary and urgent, for many reasons. That you are asking the question at all tells me you believe your level of depression does not seem fitting for the stressors, problems, losses, or loneliness all people experience. Only YOU can truly know if your personal "issues" are proportionate to your emotional state. For example, I was understandably upset when our home in Vegas was foreclosed upon, but following our move to a comfortable home owned by my parents, it was clear to me that the loss of a home I always thought was too big to begin with did not warrant my constant sobbing; inability to get out of bed; apathetic approach to unpacking; complete lethargy; and near-panic anxiety at the thought of leaving my bedroom. Clearly, my problem was larger than a foreclosure. Clinical depression is a living hell. Though I would never act upon suicidal thoughts (and again, EVERYONE at one time or another thinks about the "easy way out"--but there is a big difference between thinking about it and being consumed by that thought), suicide is of course the ultimate danger of untreated depression. But here's what you may not know: We are all fueled by the chemicals our body produces naturally. But those many chemicals CAN get unbalanced by any number of odd things and that can be devastating. I, for example, had a benign pituitary tumor which caused my adrenal glands to shut down and triggered the secretion of ungodly amounts of the steroid cortisol to flood my body (a rare condition called Cushing's Disease). Excessive cortisol, among many other harmful physical side effects, causes both manic and horrific depressive mood swings. It took doctors 10 years to properly diagnose me, during which time I lived in the blackest depression I can imagine. While I doubt you have this rare disease (which, I might add was ultimately cured!), my point is this: depression can come from situational issues or medical conditions. You need to take a holistic approach: 1. Find a really good therapist, counselor, or support group to discuss your feelings. Living with depression and not "letting it out" to SOMEONE only causes more, painful depression. 2. Discuss your depression with a psychiatrist. Before your first appointment, I would suggest keeping a journal for at least a month to see if there is a pattern to your depression. Is it worse just before your period (if you are female)? Is there ANY discernible pattern, and is it also causing insomnia, sleeping TOO much, over-eating, body aches and pains, apathy, lethargy, etc. etc. etc. Be aware that all psychiatrists immediately want to throw anti-depressants and anti-psychotics at you, which are WONDERFUL and a godsend IF the root of your depression stems from an imbalance of, for example, seratonin... but they won't help if your problem is elsewhere. 3. Find the best endocrinologist in your area and insist he/she does a COMPLETE work-up on you. This will identify any potential problems in your thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, etc. glands that can definitely cause depression and NEED to be address if they exist. A final thought: If you are living with the pain of depression, you must somehow find the strength to take charge of your health, be relentless about it, educate yourself, and cling to the fact that it can and will get better. This doesn't have to be the rest of your life. There is an answer, and while it may seem like that answer is always out of reach, trust me when I tell you, the effort you put into resolving your depression is worth every tear, every struggle. You owe it to yourself to seek help immediately. Nothing in your life will change until you do at least one thing different! Blessings, and good luck. Melissa

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