I'm going to ask that this be moved out of the way to the General Forum. Thanks to those who offered their insights. If you haven't suffered this, then you can't possibly understand what it's like. I've suffered mild depression / anxiety / whatever whomever it is you're seeing, calls it, for many years but it escalated over the past six months due to severe trauma, grieving etc.

michaelg ..... There IS DEFINITELY something in this religious / belief stuff. I started going to the Salvos every couple of weeks as one of many things I was doing to get out of this deep hole. 1st week, nothing, 2nd week nothing, 3rd week nothing, 4th week nothing ..... 5th week Whammo !!! I didn't find God although I do have some faith, but I found some peace that I hadn't experienced for a long time. Absolutely amazing !

Chrome ..... I changed medication that I'd been on for 10 years ..... an almost immediate affect. Stoppeed shaking uncontrollably. Usually these changes take a couple of weeks to show up, if at all. It ain't an exact science.

You hear it all the time that there is a way out, but when you're in it deep, and I knew I was (I don't know how those who experience this for the first time go, although having said that, my past experience counted for nought), there just doesn't appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel. The medicos and the psychs are relying on you for information so that they can help ..... BUT you're not in a position to be able to give them good information 'coz you're so screwed up !!!

For those who are going through this ..... correct medication, seek counselling, try a religious experience (never thought I'd say that, but I'm telling you, don' knock it !!!!!), get off the booze, get a couple of mates and ask that they stick by you and tell them not to assume that coz you seem OK one day that you're all better - it just doesn't happen that way. Personally I probably expected too much from my mates they're not equiped to handle this, and probs get totally worn out by it all, and maybe even a little p!ssed off 'coz they don't understand. It's all easy to say but very hard to do.

Thanks heaps to all those who helped, you've helped me and also those closest to me too. I've gone from 0% to half way ?? ..... at least far enough so that my head's above water.