Hi folks,

I have been lurking in the shadows for the past week or so and I haven't been able to come up with something worth posting. Dealing with loneliness and depression is taking it's toll on me and I feel so inadequate. My friends are too busy to hear me or write to me and I sit here hanging on. Hold on just a little longer I tell myself, things will get better.

They will get better. I've suffered through serious depression myself, and one thing I found was that if you need to spend time with friends, you have to make the effort to call them and insist on getting together.

Of course, the problem with depression is that you don't want to call anyone, you don't feel capable of making that effort, I know. Been through that. If possible, though, try to make that effort, even if you have to call a friend and say "hey, I need some of your time, even if just to talk on the phone, I'm going through a rough time and need some communication with other people."

Even though I didn't want to make the effort to contact friends when I was depressed, I found that I felt better spending time with friends. My instinct was to become hermit, but that just makes the depression worse. Even if you just listen to them talk about their lives, it can take you out of yourself for a while.

And I know that there are many people here on the forums that are happy to chat with you. I find many of the threads in the chit-chat section fun to read and participate in, and make me laugh. I'm sure everyone here looks forward to reading your posts.

Easy does it bud.. do what you can.. but do it! Posting something you are going through is good enough. You'll be helping others just knowing they are not alone. You'll likely help encourage others to step up and join us.

Please don't think that you difficulties posted here are useless. They definitely are not. They help remind those of us who have been there about our own path and those of us yet to make the headway they want to that we are not alone in our struggles.

Please post as often as you want. I find it really helps me to get on with the small steps I need to make to slowly dig my way out of a hole and back into the light.

Cheers! Ian.

Thanks very much to both of you. Things are pretty much the same and I have been trying so hard to control the urge to check my email repeatedly, hoping for some kind of word from somebody, but I think it's time for me to move on and find new friends. For tonight, it will be just me, my dogs, a baseball game and a six pack. Sounds like loads of fun eh?:sick:

I've got 3 puppies for sale if you want some more. :p
Hugs to ya

Puppies, I love puppies, however I already have two of my own and thats plenty for me. They are quite a pair too. A German Shepherd and a Chihuahua but they are the best of buddies and they look after each other. What kind of puppies do you have?

Our big dog fathered these....they are 3/4 Siberian husky and 1/4 chow. They are soooooo cute!!!!

They do sound cute. Best of luck finding homes for them. I know if I was there I would have dog number three:D Every time I hold a puppy or a kitten, my heart just melts and the brain starts trying to figure out a way to fit them into my household. Then my adult side takes over and grabs me by the collar and drags me out of the pet shop:p