some advice please...

[Moonbeam]

hi
so, i'm starting to read through things here, there is certainly a lot of information to digest.
My friend has rapidly gone downhill with depression and i'm here to get some help and advice really, as i have no-where else to turn to. And who best to ask then people who actually experince things first hand... i'm sorry now if i ask too many questions, its just i like to know things, so i get a better understanding, without having to ask the friend the questions (if that makes sense :/)

So, on average, how long does a period of depression last for, i've been reading 5 months or more?, is that right? Also, when you've started to feel a bit better, do you find how you think of friends change? (well, you can read my worries about this in my intro in the new members section)

This just feels very scary, for both me (very selfish thought on my part i know, and a bit ashamed ), but also for my friend. Its the knowledge that i can't help them in anyway. I miss talking with them too, but its knowing what to say without upsetting them. I'm scared that i'm going to lose my friend for good

[Zaf]

Depression can last a very long time unfortunately, in my case often 18 months or more - sometimes we feel as though we are improving then go downhill again for a bit, its an unpleasant illness

In my case while I'm depressed I dont want a lot of contact with other people but appreciate them being there in the background, I'm pretty sure my feelings for them stay the same when I recover but this horrible illness affects us all differently so other depressed people may react differently

Z xx

[Buttercup]

Same as Zaf really. I tend to stop communicating with even my closest friends Shen I'm low but like to know that they are there.  Generally this is simply because I don't want to talk when I'm depressed.

[lost rolex]

Hi i have been like this for 4 years, for the first 2 i had no idea i was depressed my family just thought i was down because of the accident, good luck with your friend.

LR