Oh Joe, The parallels between us are painful, yet affirm. I think it's fascinating what happened with the West Nile. So many people know so little. But they act like they do. When it comes to depression, I think the next 25 yours may blow our minds in terms of the complexities of etiology, experience--and the many roads to horrible suffering that will demand unique treatments.

I have thought of you frequently lately when I was in absolute meltdown in response to the abusive saturation in social media etc. There seems to be a dumbing down of depression. "the 2 things to help depression" "The best way to beat depression. Anything with depression and a number in the title does not deserve print.

I find myself hit in the gut because the simplistic approaches are stigmatizing in their own way. "You've been doing it all wrong...do it like this" It's insulting. Ive been sick for two months with a horrible respiratory virus. Does my doc say "Just blow your nose 5 time a day/" No she admits her limits and tries with me. One of the most offensive had to do with having a baby being an antidepressant. It was accompanied by a beatific mo/child pic. I almost lost it.

When I lay around these days I had this thought of getting together with other med writers and organizing some kind of zoom. I dont want to get into a

mine is better than yours thing-- or stupid one off things but a basic==Depression is Horrible

How its Horrible. Mild Mod Severe -- how to know

how to help. what's on the horizon--where to get more info. blah blah. Readers could sign up. Dont worry, I won't feel bad if you don't like the idea.

In the meantime I may write a piece on the damage simplistic approaches do to sufferers.

Anyway, I get a kick out of your writing--especially your honesty combined with humility.

Hope you are well martha