by Lillian Joyce

Created on: February 18, 2009

I lay in the dark with my pillow clutched to my face. In the distance I can see a dim light and hear the laughter of my family. I drag myself off the bed and slowly make my way towards the sound of their happy voices. I reach the door and realize I am enclosed in a glass box. I can see them talking on the other side, completely oblivious of the pain and turmoil I am experiencing. I bang on the glass to get their attention, but to no avail. The tears stream down my face as I shout for help, but no one can hear me. I feel as though I am falling down a cold dark well and I can't catch myself. I scratch at the sides, but I just slip deeper and deeper into the black hole. I can't seem to find a way out and for the life of me, I can't remember how I got here.

Depression is a serious, long lasting condition that aflicts millions of people today. Many of us have felt sadness every now and again when something doesn't go right. But usually within a few days we are back to our old selves again. But what happens when we are filled with so much sorrow that we cannot even reach out for help. All we can do is lie in bed and wait for things to get better. But they never do. Eventually we can learn to function in the world and pretend everything is okay, but we are just a hollow shell of our former selves. We come to except our missery as a personality, when it in fact is not. We can't seem to enjoy anything anymore and we feel like we are floating through life with no real direction or meaning. If this sounds like you, it's probably time to seek professional help.

A trip to the psychologist is a great starting point, although there is occassionaly a long wait for an appointment. If that is the case, try to make an appointment with a therapist or a counsellor in the mean time. If all else fails, seek help from your primary care physcian/family doctor. When a person cannot control their own emotions or are experiencing a lack of emotions, the doctor may prescribe an antidepressant. Not all antidepressents are right for everyone and not everyone needs an antidepressent. That being said, many people can benefit greatly from these medications. Finding the right antidepressent and the correct dose is mainly trial and error, but once a medication is found, it can have tremendous benefits.

Many people refer to antidepressents as "happy pills." This is a common myth, as these medications do not make one happy. Instead they work by restoring the chemical imbalances in the brain and allowing

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