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I've been pondering this since I read it yesterday and finally feel it's time to put in my thoughts.
Depression runs in my family. My sister and mother have both been diagnosed as clinically depressed; my brother never was. He was chronically depressed before he developed schizophrenia though.
My brother was an incredibly intelligent guy and was good at anything he tried. He was a self taught guitar player who was good enough to make it big if he'd had the chance. He didn't get good grades...but it was because he didnt care about them. He could have graduated with a 4.0 if he'd wanted to. At the time of his graduation, he had taken and passed more AP tests than anyone in the history of the school. He was an awesome athelete and excelled in basketball and tennis. He kicked ass at chess and took first place in several state tournaments.
He was never diagnosed as having clinical depression. The only mental illness he was diagnosed with was schizophrenia...which was after he had accomplished everything I listed. Like applesauce noted...does that make him a failure? Hell no. He would go through periods of major self doubt that would coincide with depressive episodes...but he was NEVER a failure.
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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"
Formerly Medusa
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