Your story is one that many of us share, @bookysue, and I appreciate you speaking out on this topic. Many people simply need meds to deal with depression and/or anxiety. It is true, as @jakedduck1, indicated that positive thinking, being involved with helping others can lift your mood. However, it is not often enough when there is a history of depression in your family.

While I'm not a mental health professional I have observed that if we grow up with depression we probably learn a lot of depressive behaviors. Many of these behaviors and thinking patterns can be unlearned and replaced with more healthy thinking (like with Cognitive Behavior Therapy) However, some of them may be rooted in a chemical imbalance in our brain and this is where we see the value of mental health meds.

Congratulations on finding the right meds that have helped you live a more productive happy life!