Boy, is this ever a tough blog to keep up! When you're fully depressed, you don't want to right, and when you're fully well, you really can't explain much about how depression feels anymore. The best state of mind, it turns out, is that slightly annoyed and angry space.

Maybe this blog should be less about the disease and more about just letting sufferers rant? I'm not sure yet, but if you have an idea you'd like to share I'm certainly open to ways to keeping this running. I'll keep plugging along as best I can in the meantime, though.

Recruitment!

Depression Stinks would like to find out more about how depression affects all people. If you are a current or former depression victim, or work with depression victims on a regular basis, and have a blogger account, please leave a comment if you would be interested in becoming a team member of this blog.

Application comments should include:

• The type of experience you have had with depression (personal or professional)
• Areas of treatment of particular interest to you
• Any types of depression that you have a particular knowledge about
• A stated commitment to a minimum posting frequency (although daily would be tremendous, honesty would be preferred)

Team members will be expected to chronicle experiences, comment on research, and discuss the cultural, political, and religious issues that affect and are affected by depression.

Who Is Terence?

I've been asked to talk a little bit about who I am and what I'm doing with this blog.

I suffered off and on from depression from before puberty until my early thirties, with periods of suicidal thoughts. I have tried treatments ranging from therapy to drugs to prayer to exercise to pets to, most effective for me, belief in myself. I'm amazed to this day that a disease that has had such a profound effect upon my life was able to insinuate itself without me noticing.

Depression Stinks is my way of giving a gift to other victims. I know that this disease can be conquered and I want to help others find the right way for them.

Depression is a disease that encourages solitude, and I hope that this blog makes people realize that they're not alone. I also welcome contributors to share their own experiences and viewpoints in posts of their own as well as comments; there is no one correct treatment any more than there is just one way to suffer from this insidious disease.