Orchids:
Hallo Ian, Thank you for talking to SLE. You have an active interest in helping
people who have depression. We understand this has been a very personal fight
for you. Can you tell us about your struggle?
Ian:
First I want to say that I have been through depression myself. I lost
everything, my marriage, my dream home, my job, my life savings, and very
nearly my life through severe clinical depression. One of the problems of
trying to help someone overcome depression is that we often don't realize what
is happening to us. The average person has no frame of reference to understand
exactly why they are feeling so bad, what often makes things worse is that people
around them don't always understand how to support someone with depression.
The stories of depression are heart-rending. Each is as
unique as the individuals concerned, it is an incredibly personalized
experience.
Of course, some people are not around to give us their
story, and that is perhaps the most tragic loss of all.