[SeriousEric]

Ok Maxx. I do know a little more about this stuff than I let on at first. Not only did my sister suffer from this, but one of my daughters did as well. I've done quite a bit of research into the symptoms as well as having witnessed them first hand. One thing I can tell you is that it's real hard for the individual who's involved to tell that something is "not right". When you're at the center of it, it really does feel like life is shit. They can't hardly imagine that things don't have to feel this way. The fact that you recognize that something about you isn't quite what it used to be indicates a powerful personality that's still fighting to not 'go under'.

The bursts of anger, the irritability and the constant negative feelings over a long period of time are a spot-on indication of depression. Once again I say, run, don't walk to your doctor and he will refer you to a psychiatrist who can confirm or deny the existence of depression. They may have to tinker around with dosages and different types of medecines for a while to get it right, but when they do, your world will improve drastically and you will be amazed.

Whatever you do, don't waste your time on talk-therapy, holistic bullshit or manly stoicism. You need to re-balance your seratonin, dopamine and adrenaline (neural transmitters). That's it. Not a character weakness ... just think of it as a defect in your wiring circuitry.