@jimhd Hi Jim, I was so happy (my kind of happy) when I read your post! No jumping up and down, no laughing, but our kind of joy. There IS someone out there whose 6 is a 9. Someone who understands! My psychiatrist thought that I had probably been dysthymic all my life and it was only when I was around 32 that I plunged downward. My husband and I finished building our dream house and a week later I graduated from college. My return to school as an adult had been a long time coming, as I had dealt with feelings of inadequacy. It took awhile for me to be able to step foot on that campus. So 2 big things happened within a week. Then my husband got laid off. I spiraled downward and I’ve never been the same. I get tired of fighting sometime, but I never stop. Anyway, thank you for writing to Abby! You have touched me!!!!.........Karen