If you don't act upon it and try to get better, then it could potentially lead to suicide.. it really depends on the severity of it, the person who has it, if they chose to get help.. things like that.

i've been battling depression since 14 and im 33. i've gotten help, i m in a support group that is helpful. i have a supportive friend who has been though simular things as me.
on the other hand i knew of someone who has shot himself in the head. this happened 19 years ago, and i still think about him, he is one of the reasons why i will never even thing about suicide.
why?
he though no one loved him, but at his funeral it was 1000's of people heartbroken. no one even knew he was depressed. RIP Andre

I've been battling depression too since I was 7 and I'm 44 now. It's all about the individual, how severe the depression is and if they get help.

i dont like taking the antidepressants.
Wendy, what do you do about your depressing? what relaxes you and give you peace?

I've been taking Lexapro since 2005 and it has really helped me. When I feel depressed it usually doesn't last more than a day or so. I just curl up on the couch and watch TV or I sleep. I don't answer my phone and everyone pretty much knows not to expect much from me at that time. Then I snap out of it, I clean the house like crazy and I get back to normal. I also do yoga twice a week and that really helps with depression.

How long can bouts of depression last - can you function during these times, is it worse trying to communicate with some than others - superficial meetings being easier than talking with someone who 'knows' you?
Trying to get a handle on it all. (father is paranoid schitzophrenic/bi-polar but over the years his responses to episodes have been led by drug therapy and ect etc so this is feeling 'new'.
Thanks-hope i dont sound rude asking you questions like this x

depression can last weeks, or months, or longer. some people try to deal with it thinking they have to....w/o talking about it or getting help.
a lot of people function okay with depression...go to work, but it maybe something different in them like a negative attitude, stop going out, or hanging out with friends.
some people have it really bad when they just cry, cant get out of bed, or think about suicide.

when i am really depressed i would talk to my mom b/c i m very close to her, and ignore everyone else. my girlfriend was very hurt by that.
there is so many different kind of drugs out there. i used prozac and i didnt like it. the doctor can change it to something else.

Thanks, my friend doesnt want to chat with me,he won't take any drugs/therapies, i feel so helpless- but it's not about me! Just wondered - looking for a definitive answer I guess- and I know there isnt one - thanks anyway-appreciate that you reply.
loup. x

Loup, My advice to you would be to just give your friend his space when he needs it. Let him know you are there but give him his alone time. When I get depressed it usually lasts for a short period of time but I just want the world to leave me alone. I don't answer my phone and I don't go out much. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is that the answer is there is nothing you can do. I can also tell you that if you don't respect the space of someone who is suffering from depression there is a chance that person won't want to be around you at all. I hope this helps.