Guest Author - Lisa Angelettie

My name is Lisa Angelettie MSW and I am the depression editor here at this wonderfully information packed website - Bellaonline.com

While you can always read my bio, I thought I would take the time in a quick article to tell you about myself and my love or not so love affair with depression.

First - I have a family history of UNTREATED depression. That means that quite a few of my family members suffer or have suffered from depression but either led very unsatisfying and unhappy lives or medicated themselves to numb themselves from the pain of the depression.

Of course it's my theory that African-Americans invented the music form "The Blues" because there was a huge population of us suffering from depression based on our socioeconomic status in North America.

And while I think I suffered from some of the typical low points of a teenager's life - I think that I fell into real depression when I was in my early twenties. I'm sure I met people during that time that wondered what the heck was wrong with me! In fact, I held a job once where some co-workers banned together and approached me with a sort of mini-intervention. They said that I seemed depressed and unhappy at the job. I was shocked that someone could see what I thought only I could feel.

I spent a few years after that -- running. And having points in my life that were good, so I thought that all was well. What I didn't understand was that I was suffering from a type of depression that was mild but long-lasting called dysthymia. What I thought was just my negative personality, was really a disorder that if left untreated could leave me a very unsatisfied and unhappy person.

Over time I realized what I needed to keep my depression in check. Talk therapy. Regular exercise. Staying connected with friends. And staying tapped into my passions - writing, music and the occasional adventure:)

I decided to go back to school to get my graduate degree so that I could help others, but quickly became pregnant with all three of my girls back to back. Not really an ideal situation for someone who has a history of depression. Because after the birth of my second daughter, I suffered a difficult bout of postpartum depression.

I would say the difference between all three of my pregnancies would be that I took the least care of myself during my second pregnancy (emotionally I mean), which must have significantly impacted how I was able to manage once I delivered her and had these two very young children on my hands!

While my journey has been filled with peaks and valleys -- I am happy to say that my bout of postpartum depression was truly the last dark time I have had to navigate myself through. I feel very good about where I am.

That is why I am here writing on Bellaonline and reaching out to any and everyone who has experienced depression or loves someone with depression and doesn't want to be alone -- anymore.

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Lisa Angelettie, "GirlShrink" is an online advice authority. Her site GirlShrink.com is the #1 "Advice & Counseling" site on the web and contributing author of "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life". Instantly get a FREE Bonus when you sign up for her free Better Choices Ezine. Please visit us for more discussion on this topic in the depression forum to talk about it further. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for topics in the news, new articles, website & book reviews, and other useful mental health resources. Subscribe below.