"i have depression i suffered for many years in the dark big time. i was too scared to say anything. i finally had to say something. i am a male of course (got to hide those feelings). things were getting very very bad. i talked to my doctor and a shrink and got me on 20 mgs of paxil 15 years ago and it really does help with the hell i felt within for years. please be patient. hang in there one day at a time if i can do it you can too. i was really bad from what docs say. it takes time to adjust to the medicine but well worth it. drinking and not taking reasonable care of yourself won&#039;t help at all. live a cleaner life does make a difference. no guilt. the side effects are for me constipation and a bit of brain fog."