Hi Jan I can relate to what you are saying about hte family link. My father has had depression, his sister, my younger brother and my older half brother and half sister, my cousin and of course me. In my situation I am curious if the link is pysical - say due only to chemical malfunction in the brain. Or the link or reason we all have it is due to behaviour and environment. My father and his sister were pretty badly physically abused. Then my half brother and half sister were not physically abused or mentally abused because their mother stuck up for them. However they have endured a lto of tragedy. Their mother died right in front of them when they were 10 and 12. And their younger natural brother my half brother was abducted when he was 3 and has never been found. In my case my father passed down the legacy of abuse. My mother did nothing to protect me so I was physically, mentally and sexually abused. I would really love to know whether the link is physical or environmental. Anyway I can relate to your situation. I really hope that you are feeling better now! heather

Hi, Jan. So far no one seems to relate to your exact situation, but I'm sure many find that they have relatives with depression. It's great that you look out for eacfh other within the family. How do you deal with your depression now?

What a great site and discussion group. I have had to be treated for depression four times in the past 18 years. Each time I’ve been sick it has taken 18 to 24 months of both medication and counselling to get a grip once again. My comments are related to the family incidence of depression As early as I can remember my mother and aunts used to talk about the “black dog” that ran with our family. “The black dog” was what Winston Churchill called his depression and my granny apparently thought that was a pretty good name so its been known “the black dog “ to me ever since. My Mums side of the family is littered with depression sufferers –all girls and all have very similar symptoms. Mum has never had it but both her sisters, two of my sisters, four nieces and seven cousins have. Without exception the real trouble begins with sleep disturbance. Waking at 3 am is our trademark. There is sometimes an upheaval in our life that has precipitated an attack – my latest was bought on by a change in jobs and moving I think. Anyway after the 3 am’s we the heart racing anxiety as our life unravels and our concentration and ability to communicate disappears. Weight loss is common, some have felt suicidal. All of us feel ridiculous and worthless when we are all of a sudden were unable to cope – the simplest things become a drama – and so we tend to withdraw. We stop calling family and friends. The grand old ladies of the family warn us that there are times you may have to beat down the door in order to reach “the black dog”. And yes recently my 32 year old niece sort of seemed to drop out of sight and her mother and I found her curled in a ball in her bed with “the black dog”. All of us are treated with the serotonin type drug and of course counciling. All of us – with the exception of my newly diagnosed cousin – have been weaned off the drugs within a two year period. I’m interested to know whether others have this familial tendency for depression and whether the symptoms are as similar as ours. My heart goes out to all who are suffering at the moment and to those carers who live with you. Its not easy. I feel kind of lucky compared to a lot of people who are not so easily treated and lack family support and understanding. Jan