I am a mid 40’s writer and student with two children, one hairy hound and a husband who has been with me for all my adult life. I have been living with clinical depression and anxiety for six years, although when I look back on my childhood and teenage years, I see the early symptoms. Wild rages, acute sadness and lack of self esteem.
A depressed mother is one key indicator for a child becoming a depressed adult. This piece of information, more than anything, drives me to overcome my own depression and prevent this insidious illness from affecting another generation of my family.
On a more cheerful note, I love art, both doing and seeing, photography, reading – especially great novels and wordy cookbooks – and writing. And when I think that I’m living too much inside my head, I put the hairy hound on a lead and walk for hours.
Painted Black 
Family and pets ARE some of the best therapy for depression (as long as they’re supportive and not analytical)
Check out my blogroll for several ‘depressed’/recovery blogs as well as some writers/artists (and some that are both).
Lots of entertainment and support available out there…
Thanks, Arkay. Walking that dog is the best way to get me going on days when I don’t feel like it!