Have had a depressive disorder for over 14 years which includes severe depression, self-harming, psychotic and suicidal thoughts. Have learnt to manage these through a mix of medication, self-coping strategies, talking and support from family and friends. As a result I now lead a pretty boring normal life with just the odd blip. Am not claiming to be an expert or anything like that - I only have the expertise of my own experiences but at the cairn we now write and advise on mental illness awareness. We have a site - Thecairn - if it is of any interest or help - hope it makes people feel less isolated as they face their challenges.
Take care