You’ve done one of the most important things already – admit you have the problem and talk it over with friends.
I’ll be 72 before the end of this year, and I’ve suffered from depression since I was 18, if not before. Things were different then; I come from a stiff upper lip background, and our GP, who was a close family friend, could not see a problem. Nor, for that matter, with the even more obvious case of my then wife who turned out to be a paranoid schizophrenic. And if the problem was diagnosed the medication then available, librium or valium, usually made you feel worse. The medical profession was also very reluctant to trust or confide in you; “We don’t like labels” they told us. In fact, many years later, when a more enlightened psychiatrist told me point-blank that I was a manic-depressive, it was a huge weight off my mind. I felt that if that was the problem I could do something about it.
There are many things you can do to help yourself. Routine is important, especially getting up and getting going,
however awful you feel. Setting sensible targets and seeing things through helps a lot. Arduous physical exercise was useful for me, being on top of a Lakeland fell as the sun goes down in winter does concentrate the mind on the simple issues, such as survival. Medication plays its part, you won’t necessarily get the right one straight away. Music can help, and not necessarily what you think you like. There may be a local support group, but be wary of ones where a majority seem to have worse problems than you! There is always someone worse off than you.
Actually, the most important single factor for me was an understanding and loving partner. Take her into your confidence, and do your best (often difficult) not to upset her. Trying to understand someone else’s feelings and anxieties opens your own mind a little. Above all, don’t get despondent if your models aren’t as good as those of some of the members on here! Just enjoy making and sailing them.
I was going to PM this to Viper1 (how about a friendlier name?), but I’ve posted it because there are probably other readers less inclined to be so open. I’ve no magic answers, I just know what worked (and still works) for me. I’m happy to discuss this by PM, or perhaps later by phone, with any other members.