First of all let me say Welcome To SR! You will find some great people to share with here!.
Hopeless, hopefully in the near future you will change your handle. It is NOT HOPELESS.
Many of us who suffer from chronic depression and bi-polar used drugs (street) and alcohol for years to self medicate.
I know for me it was only after I got sober and clean, continued to work with my therapist, that we finally found a medication that is working for me today. This didn't magically happen overnight, but it has happened. I used AA and the fellowship of AA where I found lots of other folks just like me that could relate to what was going on with me on any given day. I continued with my private therapy and took everything just one day at a time.
You too can do this.
Check out the different forums, read the "stickys" at the tops of the forums, and by all means please keep posting and let us know how you are doing, we do care!!
Love and hugs,