What a good thread Streety, and thank you for putting it up for us all.

I, too, have suffered from depression/anxiety/panic attacks and agoraphobia for most of my adult life.

Believe me, it can be just as debilitating, if not more sometimes, than any of the disabilities that there are.

I have 3 times beeen admitted to hospital with severe depression, fortunately, not for a good few years now, as they tend to get help to me rather than me having to go anywhere which is so much better.

Depression and anxiety both tell us big lies and they suck out of us, every "feel good" factor our of us, leaving us stranded in a deep, dark pit.

Although things are getting better with it all nowadays, there is, sadly, still a stigma attached to it, even worse for Men really.

I clearly still remember what happened to me after my first admission to hospital, so many of my "friends" deserted me, I suppose they all thought that I was completely insane or something!!

I think it's the most lonely illness anyone can ever possibly suffer with, which, in itself, just makes the depression a whole lot worse.

The more that it can be talked about and brought out in the open, the better it will be for sufferers.

My thoughts, love and hugs go to all that suffer