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I know this forum is a place where, by virtue of our being anonymous, we can divulge confidences we might not share with even good friends, but even given that atmosphere, I'm really touched by the experiences that people are describing.  There's a lot of insight and courage.

Some people will disagree, and say that 'depression is depression', but I feel there is what used to be called 'reactive depression' which is a rational and realistic response to physical or emotional trauma, i.e. severe injury,loss of someone we love, financial collapse etc., and clinical or endogenous depression which is - as many on this thread have described - an inexplicable feeling of misery, apathy, dread, and all the other negative emotions which constitute what Churchill called "the black dog".

Sometimes I feel our expectations of life are too high.  It's just not realistic to be happy all the time.  Bad stuff happens and it's reasonable to feel distressed about that.  And sadness and grief are normal parts of an ordinary life.  

We are constantly told that "there is an epidemic of depression".  The manufacturers of anti depressant drugs must be  delighted with the sales of their products as more and more GP's - lacking the time to talk at length with patients - whack out more and more prescriptions, often with adverse results.

Of course many people do really need the biochemical adjustment that these drugs can provide.  My father took a massive dose of the old tricyclic antidepressants for most of his adult life.  When the side effects of these caused a bowel obstruction with consequent surgery, no one would prescribe them for him again.  He spent three months in a nursing home in a state of acute misery and finally walked out one night down to the sea and drowned himself. 

I myself have had periods of feeling suicidal, but only briefly and in response to particular situations, the depression disappearing as the problem resolved.

And I've been with people I loved who simply came to a standstill because of their depression:  couldn't work, could barely talk.  No amount of 'reasonable ' reminding of all that was still OK made any difference.

This is the intractable misery that only appears to respond to drugs.

There was a  study done that was reported on last year where half the depressed participants were given anti depressants and half were instructed to do very vigorous and sustained exercise.  i.e. of the order of three hours intensive exercise every day, rather than a gentle 30 minute stroll.  The people doing the exercise reported a greater improvement in mood than did the group of the medication who did no exercise.  I can't remember the numbers involved but recall thinking both the number and the length of the study were sufficient to make the results statistically valid.

Exercise works well for me in dealing with stress and depression, and good diet also is helpful.  But I think it's an over simplification to suggest that either just exercise or a particular food regimen can control all mood disorders.

Thanks again to everyone who has been brave enough to talk about their experiences.  Hope soon they will just constitute memories for all of you.