I have never experienced clinical depression first hand but
I have lived with it for twenty five years. I fancy myself
as being a Golden Retriever type of person going through
life being optimistic, laughing and loving and trusting until I get hurt, (which I might add is very rarely) but
when I do, I eject that person from my life.

My friend Avis is just the opposite. Paranoid and unhappy
most of the time. She left here to live with her daughter
in Bethesda who is quite wealthy. After she sold her home
she had half a million dollars. She needs a bathing suit
and wouldn't pay seven dollars for parking at Lord and
Taylor's. She asked me how I stayed happy and optimistic
because my children aren't wildly sucessful like hers and
we don't have a lot of savings. Mind you, her children are
taking her to concerts and theater and ballet all of the
time. I think she is clinically depressed and recommended
that she tell her doctor that she needs help.

I was apalled at how she dresses. Her daughter is buying her all new clothing. Avis regards that as a big chore.

I see her move as an exciting chapter in a brand new life.
She has her own little apartment in her daughter's house but
is welcome to mingle with the family. I would be decorating
it to suit me and would establish boundaries. Knock before
going into the family quarters and not eating with the
family unless invited to do so. She will not even though
I talked to her about this. She insists into prying into
their affairs and criticizing which causes problems with
her daughter. Also she can't remember anything five minutes. Some people just cannot live and let live. Do
you suppose a pill will help?