I'm 66. I am a retired professional. When I was 40 I contracted Ross River Fever, ended up with Chronic Fatigue. My GP told me to get over it! I got a new GP. Then I fractured a vertebrae. We had a 4yr old son & a brand new daughter, a brand new home and interest rates went up every month. Medication didn't help. My poor partner!!! She finally dragged me of to a psychologist who explained my condition. It seems funny but I had no idea I was depressed. I had no idea about anything. I lived in a black hole for over 2 years, don't remember much at all.
The psych gave me simple tools that I use to this day, stand tall, head held high and a bunch of other stuff. With support from the above mentioned and my marvelous boss I "got better".
Over the years I've had 3 nervous breakdowns and a few less serious episodes.
In 2011 I was divorced, had surgery for prostate cancer, changed towns, bought a large house which I share with my beautiful daughter and reinvented myself. The next 4 years were the best of my life. Then the cancer returned, I had radiation therapy which doesn't seem to have worked. That doesn't really concern me by itself. I am a musician with arthritic fingers, I have a herniated disc pressing on my sciatic nerves. For the last 4 years I have enjoyed acting as Treasurer for a large Community Service Organisation but now my mind can't cope. I can't even walk my beautiful dogs.
Injury and depression aside I have been physically, intellectually and politically active all of my adult life. I have much to be grateful for but now I am just tired and apathetic.
