with depression has led to my life evolving.  Because I know how dark things can get, I am more thankful and more aware of the happiness in my life -- I appreciate my friends and family much, much more.  Finally, I believe I may never have started writing were it not for Lloyd recommending starting a journal.  Now, I plan to make writing my life's work. Yet I wish I could have found these answers in other ways.  There is something here a man should learn to do: Whatever the situation, no matter how dark, move through the awful and find the goodness. Have you dealt with depression?  What have you done to overcome it or get a handle on it? Let us know in the comments. Kudos to Mr Leahy on the courage to address his depression. I know full well that his purpose in sharing with us, the readers of AOM, is not to seek accolade, but to encourage us to take proactive steps in getting a handle on the events in our own lives that can lead to depression. I think it is very noteworthy for the rest of us to take note that Mr Leahy has said that he hit bottom with his depression on a day when others could have found reason to rejoice: getting accepted to Columbia University. This is noteworthy in that while things may "seem to be" going well for someone, they may not feel that it is. I am a person