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Depression is a silent killer. Many people hide their feelings of depression from their families and friends, keeping the 'happy face' displayed in public view, and suffering alone. For years, I was one of those people. I was ashamed to tell people that I was having problems - so I kept my issues to myself. I smiled to everyone, participated in activities outside my home as well as I could, and acted as normally as possible. I had no idea what could be wrong - I had a wonderful husband, two gorgeous, well-behaved children. I had a good job, the car of my dreams. We had a nice house in a nice neighborhood, in a picturesque little country town. And my career in the military reserves was thriving. I didn't think of going for help - if I didn't know what was wrong with myself, how could anyone else help me? So, I kept everything inside, and my depression worsened.

Finally, a close friend of mine could tell that something was wrong, and pressured me until I confessed that I was having issues. My friend knew that it wasn't normal to sleep all the time, and avoid activities with my family and friends. I even avoided phone calls and emails. I didn't think that I was depressed, I just figured that I was very tired. While I would have been angered at anyone else trying to pressure me into opening up, I had helped my friend through similar issues, and knew they were just trying to help. My friend encouraged me to go see a professional. I went to my Family Practice doctor, and he put me on a mild dose of an anti-depressant, and scheduled me for a few sessions with a therapist. The therapy didn't help much - I sat there during the sessions trying to convince the therapist that everything was great. I'm sure I would have benefited from the sessions if I had been able to open up to the counselor. However, the anti-depressant worked wonders. I was only on the medication for a few months, but I honestly believed that the anti-depressants saved my life. We later determined that I was suffering from depression, due to a recent, very stressful deployment.

If you are dealing with depression, don't hesitate to speak to your physician about it. It's easier to straighten things out if you deal with issues when they first come up. And there is no shame in needing a little extra help from medication. Also, talk to your family and friends about it. No one should have to suffer alone.

And, if you think someone you care about is suffering from depression, talk to them. It may be difficult, and they may resist your help, but they will thank you later. Don't wait until it's too late.

Learn more about this author, Maggie O'Leary.
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