by Elsa Wilcox
I can go for weeks at a time without experiencing symptoms of my depression, but eventually these symptoms return. Sometimes they appear upon awakening, when simply facing the day overwhelms me. Other times my illness makes its appearance a couple hours into the morning, when my mood begins to deteriorate and I realize I'm being sarcastic and irritable. Sometimes - especially when undergoing a hormone shift right before ovulation or the beginning of menstruation - I can actually feel my mood sinking within me.

Rating: 3.3/5

I've been dealing with my mental illness for a number of years now and have learned to steer clear of many of the things that trigger my anxiety or depression. There are movie themes I avoid and books I can't crack open. I pass on social events if I feel a dip in my mood, and sometimes when I feel the need to retreat from conversation I won't pick up the phone. It's rather like having allergies, but instead of affecting my sinuses, the reaction is in my psyche.

Rating: 4.5/5

I have clinical depression and an anxiety disorder. In the interest of full disclosure, I will share that I initially wrote, "I suffer from clinical depression and an anxiety disorder," but upon rereading that sentence, I felt dissatisfied. In my case, the word "suffer" is inaccurate.

Rating: 4.7/5

Clinical depression affects my perception of current situations as well as my evaluation of the past. Although there have been times when the behavior of people around me has doubtlessly contributed to my illness, sometimes my illness has led me to misinterpret motives. That's one reason I am writing this column under a pseudonym. Sometimes I will refer to circumstances in my life involving other people, and since they don't have the opportunity to respond, I'd like to preserve their anonymity. They may not remember events the way I do.

Rating: 3.7/5