"My name is Stephanie. I am 28 years old, and I suffered from major depression for about ten years. It first started when I was in high school. I started with symptoms of eating disorders. Then as I progressed into college, it became more of social isolation. For me, it did effect relationships, friendships, family relationships, just everything. My family was supportive as they could be, but without knowledge of depression themselves, they didn't really know what to do. I found myself having to look for different therapists and trying to figure it out on my own. I was first treated, of course, for the eating disorders, which was... it is a very difficult thing to treat, and it takes many years to recover from. Luckily I don't have any symptoms now, and I actively work at it. So its not something that just disappeared. Its something you kind of have to live with. With the help of therapy still and good friends and family, I am now in the process of changing my career and doing something more meaningful with my life, and the quality of my life has greatly improved. For anybody who is suffering, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Ideally your therapist could recommend to you. There's also all sorts of programs out there. It's something you have to work at constantly, and even in the times of adversary, you still have to commit to your own betterment and recognized that you ultimately have the power to change yourself."