Hi Y'all--

("y'all" is Southernese for "You all")

First let me say how impressed I am at your courteous & considerate(and intelligent) replies.
Thank you. South Carolinians are great, loving
people, but we're not the brightest bulbs in the marquee, if you catch my drift. It's refreshing to correspond with people who know how to spell.

To JVolkman I say-- touche, mon ami. You are right: mine is a chronic, not an acute condition,
and Magic Bullet treatment ain't gonna make it.

To Ms. Conner-- it is my belief(and my psychiatric counselor's) that a very stressful incident late in 2000 catalyzed-- brought to the fore, you could say-- what may be a life-long depressive state; I was a moody child & I remain a moody adult. There have been periods of weight-loss and self-isolation throughout my life which I'd always eventually emerge from, writing it off as "another bad spell". But it's only since late 2000 that the "bad spells" have become debilitating. And I'd never had any suicidal ideation before then; as a Christian, the whole idea of suicide is anathema to me; it is NOT an option; it is the very worst thing I could do-- not so much to myself, though there is that, but
the pain and stigma that it would cause my family would be... incredibly bad karma(if a Christian may employ that term). You mentioned working with people like me, and your own experiences with Bipolar Disorder. Perhaps we could explore this further, if you're willing.(I do not expect free treatment.)

Thanks to all,
Neuly