There is one thing about being depressed - it is very easy to become self-isolating.

You don't really want to, but you feel so lethargic and down on yourself that you really don't have it in you to be sociable. So you stay in, pop popcorn, and watch a ton of blockbuster movies.

Well perhaps that is acceptable for many of you for a a limited amount of time, but your self-imposed isolation is doing a lot of damage when it comes to your relationships.

For many of us, depression starts early in life and has affected the quality and quantity of our personal and sometimes professional relationships.

Depression can ruin how you deal with people in many ways...

1. You may lose interest in maintaining friendships or creating new ones.

2. You may ruin existing ones with a constant negative or sad affect.

3. You may appear unenthusiastic at work and put your job in severe jeopardy.

4. You may avoid social situations which may be interpreted as aloofness.

5. You may appear sad/stoic/etc. and therefore depress other people - so they avoid you.

6. Your depression may be misinterpreted as snobbery and therefore people dislike you.

7. You may appear angry and people are afraid of you - so they avoid you.

8. You may appear emotionally unstable if you often cry inappropriately - so you scare people.

And the list could go on and on. Unfortunately, there are many people walking around whose personalities and actions are being judged by employers, friends, family yet they are clinically and chronically depressed.

Living life with untreated depression can change the entire course of your life. You become someone not really authentic - and not someone living out their potential. Depression can cripple your emotional availability. It can cripple your financial possibilities. It can cripple your familial relationships.

Moral of the story?

- Find out if You are Depressed
- Consider Talk Therapy
- Consult Your Physician
- Work Through It

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Lisa Angelettie is an author, counselor, & coach on mental health, relationship, and other life issues for women. You can also visit her at www.GirlShrink.com for some Free Advice. 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.