[Juls]

Wallgazer,

I believe also that the answer lies within us, but I don't think the answer is a cure-all for the things that we suffer from. I am an artist too, and for whatever reason it seems many artists are plagued with neuroses. I am not as productive in life as I would like to be either.

The suffering I have been through, while not enjoyable, has given me a dimension that I would not otherwise have had. I know I will probably always have struggles with depression, but I do try to look at the overall picture of who and what I am.

I try to embrace my depression now instead of fight it, to acknowledge it as a part of myself. It makes it more tolerable for me this way.

I don't know that there is a cure, but medication has helped me.

Lilya,

Electro Convulsive (or shock) Therapy has been shown to be helpful with severely and chronically depressed people. Although I think now it's all insulin induced shock. It's not the nightmare treatment that it was back in the snakepit days of mental health.

I don't know why it is not used more, since from what I understand, it is not a dangerous treatment.

Wallgazer, I don't think you lack anything. Life is a process, and for us our depression is part of the process. We do learn, we do grow, and we do achieve.

Juls